Third Class Dazzle on Sixth LP
By Rick Polo
After teasing us with the stellar 'My Old Gods' EP this summer, Northeast Ohio Indie mainstays Third Class return with their new full-length, 'Haunted Until the Very End!' 'Haunted...' is the group's first full LP in three years, and sixth overall, capping off a career that spans two decades and a whole lot of diverse music. The signature songwriting and emotional highs are ever-present, yet this new record finds Third Class reaching farther and deeper into their own history while looking optimistically on toward the horizon. Third Class aren't one to go placidly among the bustle and haste, but rather offer a quiet resilience in an ever-evolving musical climate. 'Haunted...' welcomes the new and embraces the old, with a dialed up hard-rocking vibe that stands in contrast to the more recently sombre and acoustic-leaning output heard on the last few records. And ROCK they do! Kicking off 'Haunted...' is the introductory 'Watch Our Souls,' featuring Postal Service-like electronic textures, setting the tone for the upbeat and driving "Happiness is My Favorite Thing." Similarly, the touching 'I'll Say It for You' sets up another guitar-drenched rocker, 'Same Key.' A trio of album highlights follow: 'Be My Ghost,' 'It Went Like This (watch the stellar live cut from The Raw Alternative from earlier this year - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-gU9lMTi9E&t=133s), and the slow-burning delight of 'Halloween Begins!' Swirling synths and mid-tempo guitars provide some haunting (no pun intended) and beautiful atmospheres, giving a solid foundation to frontman Lee Boyle's poetic croons. The second half of 'Haunted...' refuses to let up! Launching into more guitar-driven rockers like 'You're Real' and 'Call Me Anytime.' From there, the folk-y 'I Own Everything,' keyboard-ambience of 'Busy in the Kitchen,' and lo-fi hum of 'Holy Alien,' come up for air and provide a somewhat soft landing before one final lift off with the Baroque Pop rocker title track, topping off the record on a powerful note. Where most artists would call it a day, Third Class proves with each record, there is always new ground to be covered. In an already stacked discography, 'Haunted Until the Very End' stands out, not just the new guy, but a new achievement, a new-conquering of sonic ground. The return to more upbeat rock is a nice touch, but it's also done in a way that feels urgent and immediate. This record is a must-have for fans old and new. Catch the 'Haunted Until the Very End' record release party at Cedars West End in Youngstown, OH on Oct. 30, and head to thirdclass.net to get your hands on a copy of this beautiful new record now!