Pierce The Veil released a new album on Feb. 15, called “The Jaws Of Life.” Their album cover of a hydraulic device used by first responders to get people out of car wrecks is ironically put for the album name. Furthermore, following a ten year absence, this experimental rock and metalcore band brings back their thunder.

In this comeback, however, the artists perform with a softer or more delicate sound compared to the previous ear-drum shattering sounds in earlier albums such as, “Collide With The Sky,” or“Selfish Machines.” With clearer sounding vocals and assorted instruments, a reformed version of their music is created out of dust. 

As the entry song of the album, “Death Of An Executioner” invites an upbeat and emotional mood to the album. In an analysis, the song seems to be about a love which ‘siphons’ but furious, too, with the “flames dance off your eyes.” A repetitive term in the song was the “blood red moon (light)” which was shrieked consecutively many times in an effort to describe this passing moment of love leaving. 

For the next song, “Pass The Nirvana,” a shrill-sound enfolded unlike the precursor. A pessimistic theme was portrayed through an endless repetition of the demand, “Give up, give up, I can’t hear you.” To contribute to the mood, the phrase: “Cause every single day I try to roll my eyes and breathe,” had described how futile trivial events seem to the lyricist.

Oppositely, the proceeding song, “Even When I’m Not With You” follows an optimistic theme in love and life. An acknowledgement of “how far we’ve come,” provided the proud sentiment and an anaphora articulated how the love is endless. I specifically adored the ending part: “What is love besides, Two souls trying to heal each other.”

I personally dislike this next song, “Emergency Contact.” Words are thrown all over the place with no genuine conclusion or theme. The rhythm to the song is inconsistent and the cheesiness in words is embarrassing. Although my main impression of the song is being inferior, the whole concept of, “just want you to be my emergency contact,” is sentimental. 

“Flawless Execution,” on the other hand, screams in passion a message of companionship instead of loneliness. The similarity is shown through, “You and I are blood and wine.” He mentions the incomparable pain of being in the shadows and titles himself as a ‘freak’. I believe many people can relate to this in their own lives as it’s an inevitable experience.

At long last, the title-named song reemerges the idea of the fate and mortality in life being the “jaws of life” as well as a clear indication of identity issues, not being trusted in who you are. Simply, the gist of the song which sums up the entire album is making the most out of life as we are “rotting in the sun, we’re inside the jaws of life.”

“Dawn The Man, Save The Empire” is a heavy-hitting rock melody which advances pushing through for what you believe in without acknowledging the hate that will be thrown along the way. 

Pierce The Veil adds a to-die-for intro sampled from “Dazed and Confused” to initiate the song, “Resilience.” In allegory-full lyrics, the artist mentions Marvel gods, royal crown, Houston, and spider webs. For the spider webs, since it is mentioned abundantly, I think it stands for small pushbacks in your day-to-day life. 

Interlude! As titled as “Irrational Fears,” it explains in the lyrics about the off-chance of an emergency landing in an aircraft where you, “take this protective brace position.” This album, having a retrospective outlook on life already, uses such figurative language for their audience. I question just why have an interlude with three songs left, though.

Presently, “Shared Trauma” is a melancholy song focused around the topic of trauma which “takes it to break it.” And, again, the state of emergency reference pops up again. I like the vocal change in the ending and the chorus, but the vibe is really off. 

The guitar and drum work in the second-to-last song, “So Far So Fake,” is absolutely exhilarating. Beats quickly speed-up for a climax in the lyrics where a noticeable hatred with gentleness arises. I love the duality of low and high tones which are violently exaggerated. 

Last but not least, “12 Fractures,” includes a feature of Chloe Moriondo. I think the lyrics are quite poetic and reminiscent of a love spent together; a sweetness flows through Chloe’s voice with both of their speeches in an agonizing pain. 

Even as the last song of the album, I believe it is the best out of all aside from, “Damn the Man, Save the Empire;” it was a beautiful artwork to close the album out. In analyzing the entirety of the album, I would not recommend every single song, although a select few are up-beat bangers. 

Metalcore may be a controversial genre for many music listeners, but every listener will be able to find at least one song out of “The Jaws Of Life” to bop to. I love the introduction, interlude, and ending; in between, however, not so much. Check out and find your favorite parts and songs!