That’s the main issue with With Confidence the album: it hooks you in with the kind of songs we’ve come to expect from With Confidence the band – soul-searching songs with melodies that burrow their way into your brain and lyrics that find their way into your heart – but then there’s a misstep that causes you to lose faith in proceedings. And while there are enough strong moments to scoop you back up again, interest wise, this process of delight (Cult) and disappointment (Atlanta) is repeated throughout, making for an uneven listening experience (not a charge you could level at its predecessor, 2018’s excellent Love And Loathing.)
The problem this time around may well stem from the strength of this album’s tentpole singles, particularly the lovably corny Big Cat Judgement Day, which heralded a tent that’s sadly turned out to be sagging and letting the rain in. You can’t knock With Confidence’s ambition, but this time around it appears they’ve let their desire to be big overlook the small matter of having enough songs that land with the listener.
Verdict: 2/5
For fans of: Neck Deep, State Champs, Waterparks
With Confidence is out now via Hopeless