Keep Running is a gripping album from Avantide, a band based in Bismarck, North Dakota. Their melodic rock sound complements resonating thematic pursuits, navigating life’s ups and downs with moments of melancholy, determination, and a lingering hope for understanding.
“Take it Slow” opens with an introspective outpouring amidst calming guitar work. “I’m rummaging around my head,” the vocals admit, asking “what can I say? I threw it all away,” as jangly guitars align with harmonious backing vocals for a hooky vigor. “Take it Slow” quickly showcases the band’s adeptness at growing understated contemplation into heightened, replay-inducing structural twists. “Doesn’t Matter” follows with a similarly climactic charm, this time building chugging guitar momentum into a flourishing, distortion-friendly mid-point expanse with dexterous percussive growth. The “I don’t wanna see you no more,” refrain concludes the track with a declarative passion.
Another highlight, “Sleep it Off” consumes in its dynamic spaciousness — ranging from acoustic-set title-touting dreaminess and jumpy, ardent guitar stomps. The final minute channels a fervent alt-rock nostalgia in its emotive, elongated guitar tones into a final title-set refrain. The bass-heavy initial momentum of “Keep Running” also enamors, weaving seamlessly into tender guitar twangs and a smooth central refrain. Chugging bursts of distortion provide an infectious warmness thereafter, exuding a ’90s fondness fondly in the vein of Weezer and Ozma; it’s another melodic charmer on an album with an abundance of them.
The album’s second half continues the quality songwriting, as “To the Moon” ponders about a rocket ship bound for Mars and its vacancy. “Let’s go to the moon, don’t leave anything for a film studio,” the escalated vocals let out alongside hectic guitar enjoyment. A lusher “they don’t speak what they know,” contemplation ventures grippingly into a jangly refrain, cementing its replay-inducing tendencies. Twangy and jangly immersion also persists throughout “Best Friend.” “I guess I’m just best friend material, all you gotta do is ask,” its hook lets out, reminding of Smith Westerns in its jubilant, welcoming rock propulsions.
Album finale “Tidal Waves” is a satiating close, further exemplary of the band’s variety between more subdued contemplation and vigor-full escalations. “I’m asking God above, ‘am I strong enough?”” the vulnerable admissions exude, furthering the “built it up for nothing, just to watch it fall,” introspection. A triumphant-feeling sense of “waiting,” for the tidal wave to carry one way sends chills, as does an anthemic guitar soaring that builds into a final harmonious vocal layering. Keep Running is a resonating success from Avantide.
