REVIEW: Outline In Color 'Imposter Syndrome'
Outline In Color has always been a household name when it comes to bands that made an impact on the scene. Back in 2010, Outline In Color set the trail ablaze with their self-titled EP, following their first full-length album Jury of Wolves in 2012. Outline In Color would then climb to popularity, releasing their second album Masks in 2014, followed by Struggle in 2016.
Their last full-length, 2019’s self-titled album, cemented their place in the genre as a force to be reckoned with, delivering inventive, melodic, instrumental finesse, without jeopardizing the foundations of their post-hardcore framework laid out within. With each album that has come to pass, Outline In Color has always engraved a signature style into every project they release, while also keeping in mind the genre they are writing for.
We then come to Imposter Syndrome, a five-track EP that is brimming with waves of ambient soundscapes infused with R&B and post-hardcore elements heavily peppered within. Opening track "Breaking The Silence" combines these musical features successfully, showing the band hasn't missed a beat since the release of their last album. It shows a perfect start to the EP and gears us up for the next few experiences left on here.
Moving on from the first track, we come to a catchy little ditty "Alibi." Heavy atmospheric tones coat this track along with delicious R&B flavors as the post-hardcore vibes beautifully merge. Clean melodic vocals and lyrical genius make this a memorable listening experience and will be a replayable track after it’s finished.
"Practice What You Preach" instantly becomes the highlight of Imposter Syndrome. It's not only the most alien of tracks on the EP, but it also progressively reaches gritty lengths instrumentally that most of the songs do not pinpoint at all. Vocally, it flawlessly transitions from unclean to clean, making it one of the most successfully crafted tracks on the EP. Though this will be a different experience from the rest of Imposter Syndrome, "Practice What You Preach" doesn't feel misplaced and keeps in stride with the sound they are trying to accomplish within.
The EP ends with "Vertigo", bringing us down from the hype of the last track. "Vertigo" has softer intones, underlined with ample instrumental heaviness, ascending choruses, clean vocals, and powerful harmonies that show off the vocal capabilities of what this band has to offer.
Imposter Syndrome is a well-written EP. Successfully balancing out a myriad of genres into a five-track experience is never an easy task, but Outline In Color seems to have pulled it off in spades. Showing their expertise as well-seasoned veterans in this genre for the past decade, Outline In Color is proving yet again they still got it.