ALBUM REVIEW: Traces

The Drifts came out with their album in 2021 titled ‘Traces.‘ Their work conveys emotions you didn’t even know existed and used loads of technique to better the album. However, before going into the LP, take caution that you might not come out the same.

It’s hard to believe the band formed in 2019. Listening to the band’s sound, you would’ve thought they’d been together for years. Binod and Sam (guitarist and bassist) “had been bugging me for YEARS to start a project all together, but the stars never seemed to align, and I had no real drive to write.”

Alyssa went on saying, “late summer early fall of 2019 Sammy and myself had both just gotten out of our own long term relationships. He started sending me riffs, and I would send back melody and lyrics. Riding on a wave of intense emotions and heartbreak, within a few weeks, we have about 12 songs written.

“Binod was the final piece that helped us bring everything together.”

Without Alyssa’s and Sammy’s exes, we would have never received this album. Something quite astounding came out of the horribly on-going storm.

Lyss told me, “during the recording process I would find myself singing and then burst out crying in the booth because I was quite honestly an emotional wreck at the time. I had never written and been so vulnerable before. Then to have to repeat and sing these lyrics about something you are trying to move forward from.. it definitely isn’t helpful.

“But somehow, it was therapeutic and quite cathartic. The guys would once in a while hear me let out a light cry or hear a crack in my voice during a take and then come in the booth with chocolates for me or a pat on the back.. it was real sweet.”

The entire album took me on a rollercoaster of inner thoughts and sensations. There was this whole world of pain bleeding through each song and then this loveable demeanor shift of “fuck you.” At the very end, Lyss and the Drifts made it clear that they haven’t let go entirely. And that bloody drove me to fall for the album.

The intro to ‘Traces’ made me want to break down. Perhaps this is the highest power of music. The song was gentle as the vocals were nothing short of beautiful. As a piece, it sounds a bit like a light form of rock. However, it was still as radiant as a metal piece, perhaps even stronger.

The song ‘One of a Kind‘ gets me feeling a certain way. The Drifts were genius while creating this piece as well as brave. It was relatable and still strong. They completely threw themselves out there, and it worked perfectly to their benefit. The rhythm of the song is upbeat and relatively close to pop-punk. There was this light that was shining on the guitarist. And he gave a bit off a more rigid feel to it. At the same time, the drummer creates a glaring spine for the song. Increasingly the album gets me high. It’s like every piece that goes by, the higher I feel.

In the song ‘Hurts Like Hell, ‘ both the drums and the guitars sound like they belong in the 70s. Lyss told me they had “used a 60s fender precision bass for most of the album.” The song nearly burnt holes through my skin. “I guess I have to find myself/ And it hurts like hell.” It’s like The Drifts can directly touch their listeners. The song went hard and ended being one of my favorites.

Speaking on the lyrics, there were a few particular lines that were entirely heart-shattering. “Always living for the come and go/ Take it, easy baby,/ Take it slow/ Don’t forget who’s waiting for you back home.” The song “Why You Wander” is powerful, emotional, and unique. It hit hard musically with the genius guitarist. By this point, I was entirely high on The Drifts. I was bloody floating.

Altogether, the album was filled with impressive guitar solos and comforting lyrics. The vocals were heavenly, and the backbeat was powerful. The future of The Drifts seems bright; I’m sitting on the edge of my seat, waiting for what comes next.