Afterglow - 'Inward' - Album Review

When I first encountered and connected with Afterglow back in 2022, I was met by a friendly group of talented musicians from Mexico City, determined to independently get their band in front of as many people as possible and also make the world a better place in the meantime. This might all sound naive or clichéd but what struck me the most back then was their honesty, drive and ambition, and now it is with immense joy, respect and maybe a little bit of pride that I present you with their long-anticipated debut LP Inward.

Above all else, this album is all about maturity and determination. Nowadays, it is rare to come across a musical release as driven and purpuseful, regardless of genres or forms. During their "early days" between 2019 and 2022, Afterglow dropped a few singles that were perfectly djenty, proggy and primal in their execution, a beauty in chaos that culminated with the sheer force of nature that was 'Like a Wave'. Now, two years later, they deliver a record so concise, logical and driven that it is very hard to accept it as a debut.

Modern heavy music comes in many shapes, forms and origins but even the most involved or knowledgeable of us would fail to name many current bands from Mexico, if any, which makes Afterglow even more special. The guys are proudly waving their flag in the modern international metalcore scene, and deserve their place alongside established heavyhitters like Northlane, Silent Planet, Kingdom of Giants and Polaris, to name a few. Comparisons aside, there is a certain sci-fi alure to them that reflects a proggy, futuristic and dystopian feel, with both beauty and rage blended in to perfection within the tracklist.

Upon its release, Afterglow presented Inward as the evolution of their sound in 11 tracks, "each narrating subjective experiences in our quest to understand our shared existence". Finding balance and harmony in cohabitation in this chaotic present and looking towards the unknown future remains a main topic throught the album. The imaginative sonic spaces are vast, welcoming and full of possibities, but also turbulent and treacherous, with new dangers and twists lurking behind each corner. Inward is as uniform as it is diverse, a release with clear message and an even clearer idea of how to deliver it.

As far as modern djenty metalcore albums go, Afterglow operate within the established traditions and expected limits with striking excellence and flexibility, confident and risk-free. Throughout the last two years we have witnessed the maturity of their sound with each consecutive single, from the hopeful 'Nothing In Between' and 'Petrified' all the way to the anthemic 'The Secret of You' and 'The Lonely Star' but their true power lies within the brand new singles. It is the likes of 'Crash', 'Noise' and 'Break Away' that add those unique final touches, layers and nuances making Inward a true umissable modern classic.

All in all, Inward is the perfect way to start 2024 and a must-check for everyone who loves modern metalcore in general. Equally melodic and aggressive, reasonably epic in composition and adequately reflective in nature, the album is a perfect example that the genre is far from exhausted and has plenty more to give when handled with care, respect and talent. Check it out and follow Afterglow with no hesitation!

Afterglow - 'Inward'

Country: Mexico

Released: 12 January 2024

Label: Independent

Tracklisting:

1. 'Solid'

2. 'Break Away'

3. 'Nothing in Between'

4. 'Noise'

5. 'Inner Fire'

6. 'Crash'

7. 'The Lonely Star'

8. 'Holding On'

9. 'The Secret of You'

10. 'Petrified'

11. 'Inward'