Fox Reviews Rock

Introduction

Today we review some of the standout tracks from the latest album by The Open Flames. The album “Same Time Next Year” was released at the start of 2025. The band have a knack for storytelling through the duel vocals, in which you really do feel the vocalist embodying the characters. This is all in additon to powerful drums, inventive bass and guitar tones all over the spectrum!

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Review

Drop A Coin

The track kicks off with a powerful drum crash, before swiftly setting the rhythm for the rest of the song that is to follow. The guitar’s chord progression is nimble and light, radiating a sense of happiness in me when I listen to it. There’s a fuzzy bass-like tone that I can’t quite identify, but it pulls me in and to be honest could the highlight to this song.

The vocals are incredibly clear! As soon as he starts singing, you can easily hear every word. That is becoming less and less common these days. This clarity is a result of both technique and an excellent mix in the postproduction! Focusing on the lyrics, I appreciate how the song possesses a genuine storytelling aspect. I love being immersed in an experience, a journey, and this track delivers that in spades.

“A blind little girl sits at the Gates of Hell. Drop a coin into her cup and she will wish you well.”

I’m torn about the backing vocals in this track; sometimes they blend beautifully, especially the feminine parts, which add a gentle touch and in places showcase impressive vocal range. However, I’m not particularly fond of the deep vocals included. They seem intended to represent hell and its citizens, but I feel they contribute little more than a sensory overload. This aspect unfortunately detracts from the overall experience in the latter half of the track.

Not Never

The bass at the beginning of this track hooks me in. When paired with the guitar, it creates a powerful opening. I appreciate the harmonized vocals throughout this piece, especially the interwoven segments that stand out as a highlight of the entire album. The instrumental section later in the song is another favourite of mine, allowing the guitarist to showcase their impressive skills. Additionally, I find the theme of navigating relationships and making choices between different partners quite engaging and not an overused topic.

Lockdown

This is pure chaos at its finest. From the very beginning, the song delivers a rapid tempo and a genuine punk vibe. I particularly appreciate the clever guitar riff that weaves between the verse lines; it’s executed beautifully.

Even more surprising, and something I never expected to say, is the mention of mannequin body parts—it’s both amusing and perfectly suited to the song! At just 2 minutes and 11 seconds, this exhilarating track leaves me wanting more.

Final Notes

These were just the songs that we saw as particular highlights, there is 4 more songs to enjoy! This album is definitely worth a listen, as I think it has something for everyone, which at times can be its Achilles heel.

7/10

All rights to the songs in this review are retained by The Open Flames. This site claims no rights over them. The images were provided by The Open Flames.The photos were taken by Serena Guarnaschelli. The art was created by Evan Sult.