REVIEW: Against the Current - Till Death & Back
Back after eight years with their latest full length album, and five years after their latest EP, AGAINST THE CURRENT are ready to make waves in the pop punk sphere again with new album Till Death & Back. Having frequent appearances with the Riot Games team on the game League Of Legends soundtrack, these Fuelled By Ramen staples have taken a while to release something new. Whether it’s enough to make up for lost time is something to be seen.
Opening with Fortune Favours The Brave, vocalist Chrissy Constanza gets to showcase her range with a backing of guitarist Dan Gow and drummer Will Ferri bringing a classic pop rock feel, verging on pop punk. Dead Man Walking takes the album in a different direction with an almost metalcore feel with heavy beats and soaring vocals filled with angst teaching audiences about the fear of getting lost in the music industry amongst other bands.
Ashes To Glory feels like one of those classic AGAINST THE CURRENT tracks, perfect singalong vocals, cinematic melodies, and heavy drums by Ferri that almost power the song along. The Moth again feels like the band are heading into a metalcore-esque vibe with moments that felt like breakdowns and lyrics that tell the audience of defeat and vulnerability.
The lyrics in this album weave messages of darkness, confrontation, romance, and intimacy. It’s about fate and how things don’t change even when you’re gone. Heavenly leaves Costanza singing the lyrics “But I won't hide the pain to put your mind at ease” talking about how letting go can be a moment of liberation. Single Always You & I talks about a love that feels eternal no matter what is happening. The emotions packed into the song feel raw and honest through lyrics and music to create one of the best songs on the record.
White Noise builds into a catchy song that has great singalong moments, however it doesn’t feel new. It feels like a classic AGAINST THE CURRENT song that has been revamped for a new audience. On the other hand, PROTÉGÉ feels like something new. Showcasing Costanza’s vocal range whilst singing about power dynamics and finding your identity influenced and adapted into something altogether new. Moments of this song feel confrontational and defenceless at the same time.
Diving straight into the last two songs of the album, Stuck feels completely different to the last two songs. The title track Till Death & Back ends the album with something altogether evocative. Whether each song was building up to this or not, it truly feels like this is the stand out song of the album. You can see how the influence of SPIRITBOX’s Josh Gilbert’s production has really given a darker edge to the songs. It’s difficult to see what genre AGAINST THE CURRENT could place themselves in. Whilst they are no longer the pop punk band they were, it feels like they are far away from calling themselves metalcore.
Whilst the album doesn’t honestly feel like anything special, or new, it’s the type of album that will please current fans along with having enough songs to capture a new audience too. AGAINST THE CURRENT are a band that can make classic, cinematic feelings rock songs that capture a rollercoaster of emotions. Whatever happens next, they can’t leave it another 8 years.
Score: 6/10
Till Death & Back will be self released on 30th October 2026.
Words: Laura Davies
Photos: Jordan Knight
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