Bad Suns – “Mystic Truth” Album Review

Written and Edited by: Maddie McVey

Southern California quartet Bad Suns burst onto the mainstream alternative rock scene in

2014 with their debut hit “Cardiac Arrest,” which showcased the band’s penchant for swaggering riffs and front man Christo Bowman’s unique voice for the first time. Returning with their third album, Mystic Truth, it’s clear to see the band has traded in some of their usual bouncy pop flourish in favor of a more refined, mature sound – both musically and lyrically. This is perhaps best summed up in the overall essence of the record: a viewpoint of overwhelming optimism, even in the face of our chaotic current times.

The album opens with the undeniably Bruce Springsteen-esque piano riff of single

“Away We Go,” rather than the modern alternative rock guitar we’ve come to expect from the band. The shift in style is constant throughout the rest of the album, where each song takes on a more a mellow, classic rock vibe than the danceable post-punk influenced sound of their past releases. Unfortunately, this downshift makes the record less likely to grab you, and will probably leave you metaphorically sitting back in your chair rather than rising to your feet on the first few listens. The vibrant, instantly electrifying excitement of songs like fan favorite “Daft Pretty Boys” off the band’s superb sophomore effort Disappear Here is unfortunately mostly absent here, but that doesn’t mean value isn’t found elsewhere.

The biggest strength of Mystic Truth is found in its lyrics, which leave you feeling

impressively refreshed and motivated. While many other artists are creating music darkened by the current social and political unrest, Bad Suns chooses to see the bright side of things. “Take one look around you and you just might find, a miracle a mile away,” Bowman sings on standout track “A Miracle, a Mile Away.” He continues with this encouraging outlook on “Darkness Arrives (And Departs),” where he tells a newspaper-reading friend with a hopeless outlook on the future, “That’s where you’re wrong; the future’s in only our hands.” Although less stylish and colorful than before, this more optimistic, mature, and confident version of Bad Suns may have just created the type of album the world needs right now.