If there’s one thing that Brian McTernan is known for, it’s his reputation for taking above average bands and bringing out qualities latent within them that were previously unaddressed. DON’T LOOK DOWN, with their second full-length, “The Fear In Love” prove that such transitions can be downright remarkable. For eleven extremely solid tracks, DON’T LOOK DOWN fiddle with a mix of technical pop-punk that’s both catchy, and more importantly, interesting. Even though the majority of the songs on this release follow a verse/chorus/verse blueprint, DON’T LOOK DOWN work within a dynamic that pushes hard with roaring guitars and surging lead vocals, sort of like STORY OF THE YEAR, but without the screaming (especially on “Last Breath” and the title track). On some of the harder songs, there’s definitely a new THRICE influence to the band’s songwriting that wasn’t present with earlier material, but any deliberate forays into metal are washed away by the band’s committment to pop melodies. The most memorable song on this release for me is the tenth track, “Defined By Your Desire,” which has a very cool whispered/sung intro that begs for a crowd sing-along in a live setting. As DON’T LOOK DOWN seem to enjoy playing around with various tempos, the flow into “Defined…” from the prior two songs, “Dramatic You,” and “Follow Me” fits seamlessly together, and is a microcosm of how well constructed “The Fear In Love” feels. To think the same band that released “Start The Show” a few years ago is the same band that released “The Fear In Love” makes my head spin. DON’T LOOK DOWN have poured all its road-weary experiences and musical desires into “The Fear In Love,” and its humble, honest, and talented nature makes for a release that grows better with each listen. Recommended.

Nitro

www.nitrorecords.com