SET IT OFF - SET IT OFF
Set It Off's new album arrives with a clarity of purpose that is unmistakable from the very first track. There is a sense of direction and self-possession throughout, as if the band has taken time to examine where they stand, who they are, and what kind of emotional and sonic landscape they want to create moving forward. The resulting album feels bold and considered in equal measure, a theatrical flair cut with sleek, contemporary polish. It's an evolution, rather than some radical reinvention, and it plays like the work of artists who have learned how to thrive in the space between intensity and refinement.
Production across the record is notably cohesive, giving the songs a shared DNA without sacrificing individuality. The instrumentation is layered but purposeful; every swell of synths, guitar accent, and vocal harmony feels placed with intention rather than excess. Many of the tracks are driven by sharp, rhythmic foundations: pulsing basslines that feel physical, drums that hit with a precise sense of drama, and electronic textures that give the music a glossy edge. Yet, despite the modern sheen, the music never becomes overly sterile. There's personality in the mix, even the slickest songs retaining a sense of grit and emotional tension.
Perhaps one of the biggest strengths of the album is in its balance of energy and vulnerability. On the more explosive tracks, there's a confident bite to the delivery, a kind of emotional release that feels cathartic and commanding. These are songs that carry an attitude, sometimes defiant, sometimes sarcastic, sometimes triumphant. But these moments are contrasted with softer, more introspective pieces that pull back the mask and examine the quieter realities behind the bravado: fear of misunderstanding, the desire for genuine connection, frustration of repeating patterns, and exhaustion from emotional self-defence.
That balance in this record makes the emotional journey of the album feel more true. The songs shift and stretch instead of remaining in one emotional gear; this is the sense that confidence is usually built atop struggle, rather than in place of it. There's a narrative arc to that, one that listeners can follow whether they approach the album in sequence or jump between songs based on mood. It speaks to that universal experience of navigating oneself: those moments of clarity, lapses into insecurity, and the push to rise again.
Vocally, the performance is one of the most compelling strengths of the album. The delivery is dynamic, expressive, and changes tone effortlessly, where the song demands it. There are moments of hushed reflection where the vocals carry a fragile openness, and moments where the intensity spikes into a controlled snarl or soaring melodic line. The range of emotion conveyed through phrasing and tone imbues the lyrics with layers beyond their literal meaning. It feels theatrical without being melodramatic, dramatic without being overwhelming, like someone reliving emotions for real, rather than merely performing them.
The writing is both direct and layered lyrically. Many lines carry dual meanings depending on the listener's perspective or emotional state. The imagery and word choices find that balance between being conversational and poetic, which ultimately allows these songs to feel relatable without losing their sense of style. The themes are centred around personal evolution, examining the self, confronting painful truths, rebuilding confidence, and learning to release the weight of past experiences. These themes are familiar, but the way they're expressed feels grounded and personal rather than generic. The lyrics show an awareness of emotional complexity rather than resorting to simple declarations.
One of the album's strengths is in how it sustains momentum without becoming predictable. Energetic songs are spaced to keep the pacing alive, while more introspective moments arrive when emotional impact calls for breathing room. The tracklist seems to be arranged to take the listener through rising and falling emotional arcs, rather like acts in a stage production. This sense of pacing adds to the cohesion of the album as a whole, further encouraging listeners to take it in whole rather than as isolated singles.
At its core, the album feels like a statement of identity, one which acknowledges growth without disowning where the band has come from. It embraces dramatic flair, bold emotional expression, and a sense of performance, but refines these elements into something sharper and more controlled. There is confidence in restraint, a maturity in the willingness to hold back when the moment calls for subtlety. In the past, emotional intensity may have spilt outward; here it is channelled with direction and purpose.
The sound of the album leans into a polished, modern pop-rock approach that feels organic rather than jarring. The pop elements are used to heighten the atmosphere, shape tension, and broaden the emotional range of the music, while the rock influence gives the songs their physical presence and bite. The electronic textures play a substantial role in shaping the emotional tone, adding shimmering melancholy in some moments and sleek swagger in others. What makes this album so compelling is not merely the sonic craft but the emotional honesty behind it. The songs do not flinch from unpleasant feelings, nor do they indulge them. They simply sit with them, examine them, and render them into something uplifting-even if that uplift comes through acknowledging pain before transcending it. There's an empowerment here, but it's one that's earned, rather than proclaimed. It's in recognising one's own patterns, choosing growth over stagnation, clarity over confusion, and strength over resignation. By the time the final track runs its course, the album leaves the listener with a sense of resolution, not because everything's necessarily wrapped up, but because the emotional journey has been fully acknowledged. It feels like the end of a chapter, rather than the end of a story, and there's room for whatever's to come next, but make no mistake: this is a band who have found their centre of gravity again.
Overall, this album stands as one of the most confident and cohesive works by Set It Off. The album understands the emotional value of contrasts, such as power versus vulnerability, spectacle versus subtlety, and uses them to make songs that strike deep. It's a record inviting movement, reflection, release, and connection. Vibrant, expressive and full of life, this record promises to be both the soundtrack to catharsis and the companion for quiet introspection. It feels like not just a new chapter for the band but a statement of who they have become.
Kayla Kerridge
★★★★☆