Stepping "Into the Raging Sea" with Broadside
Words by Mary Perez
Graphic by Emily Lantzy
36 minutes of your time is all Broadside asks of you, but you’re likely to spend far longer listening to Into the Raging Sea, the band’s latest release. Broadside’s third full-length record follows their 2017 album, Paradise, and the band has gone through quite a few ups and downs since then. From undergoing lineup changes, releasing two singles last year, changing labels, and going on several tours, fans have been excitedly awaiting this album, and it’s not without good reason. The band - comprised of vocalist Oliver Baxxter, guitarist Domenic Reid, bassist Patrick Diaz, and drummer Jeff Nichols - hit the studio with producer Seth Henderson last year to create their first album together with this lineup. Their newest album is as hard-hitting as Broadside’s debut, Old Bones, without losing the summertime vibes of Paradise. As Broadside enters the next era of the band, fans are invited to truly feel for these stories being explored throughout the record and see what comes next.
The title track places the foundation for the album itself, and it serves as one of the earliest foundations for the ongoing themes seen throughout the album. “The Raging Sea” tells the heartbreaking story of sacrificing oneself to satisfy somebody else’s wishes, and the song speaks directly to its listeners. Broadside lays down these ideas of whether or not they are giving all of themselves to become these idolized characters, a “poster” or “trend,” as noted within the lyrics. Baxxter repeats rhetorical questions over and over, desperate wanting to know whether or not he’ll make it out, if there is any point, what is the point. Just as the somber track looks close to its end, we hear a guitar riff break through the pleading and Baxxter screams out the final words of the song, a haunting reminder to the listeners.
“Foolish Believer” was the first taste of Into the Raging Sea that Broadside fans experienced earlier this year, and the band released the single to go with their announcement of their signing with Sharptone Records. Originally intended to be the first track on the album, it was a great decision to make it the lead single but not the opening song on the record. Featuring a chorus absolutely bursting with energy, the song itself is so empowering with its hopeful message, “I just wanna be remembered.” This song is incredibly catchy and never seems to get old, regardless of how many times I play it. Every instrument in this song perfectly complements Baxxter’s vocals, and this will definitely be a fun one to hear live.
Immediately, we go from “Foolish Believer” into “Overdramatic,” and the third track is about staying stuck in the same unpleasant situations due to one’s stubbornness. Fun and catchy, the song is a rather blunt and somewhat witty jab at the mannerisms of this theatrical character. One of the lighter tracks on the album, its bridge takes a more uplifting turn with the line “You’re alive, remember that.” Whenever Broadside can play shows again, it’ll be entertaining to watch what dance moves Baxxter breaks out for this one.
Broadside are no strangers to love songs; in fact, several of their most popular songs are tales of falling in love, such as “Coffee Talk” on Old Bones and “I Love You, I Love You. It’s Disgusting” on Paradise. “Nights Alone” is proving itself to be an early fan-favorite, and it fits just right among those lovesick songs that Broadside always seem to nail. Vibrant and bouncy, the rhythm section really is the backbone of this song. The fifth track, “Heavenly,” is just as its name sounds: angelic. A lighter track that is the very epitome of the feeling of new love, its feel-good melody paired with some truly sweet lyrics to create a catchy midpoint to the album. Days before Into the Raging Sea dropped, Baxxter teased fans on Twitter, “Just wait until you hear ‘Dancing On the Ceiling,’ the cutest song ever written.” Boy, was he right. The song recounts those moments of feeling comfortable and truly in love in a romantic relationship, and the lyrics illuminate that turning point from feeling not good enough for a partner to finally feeling enough. It’s exciting to see Broadside continually prove that they are the masters at perfectly capturing the ups and downs of love in their songs.
In an interview with Rock Sound, Baxxter noted that “Clarity” and “Seasons” both relate to his family’s history with bipolar disorder. He also revealed in their recent YouTube live stream that most of “Clarity” was actually freestyled, which is surprising for the heaviness of the subject matter. An introspective song that tackles the search for a better understanding of oneself, each verse reflects on not knowing how to express these internal challenges without burdening others. The chorus elucidates the song’s message in a painfully honest manner as Baxxter sings out, “What’s wrong with me / I’m asking for some clarity / What’s wrong with me / I’m begging for my sanity.” The bridge features some high harmonies as loneliness echoes through the lyrics. “Seasons” is also similar, approaching the surprise of anyone sticking around through these mental battles that can greatly affect one’s functioning. On days when you barely feel like yourself and are trying to even feel alive, it can be difficult to feel loved by others and safe in one’s environment, as shown in the lyrics: “I just want to feel alive / You can see the stranger in my eyes… Don’t even love myself, so wait in line.” Broadside have always challenged themselves to write about tough topics, and their ability to be so incredibly raw in expressing these feelings is one of the reasons why they are so underrated for their lyricism.
Although “Breathe You In” features a really fun melody, this song feels like it’s building up to a big chorus but eventually never gets there. I love the harmonies within the chorus, and the song feels like it could be a fun one to sing along with at a Broadside show. Its verses touch on feeling detachment from oneself and using romance to escape from fears, and it’s refreshing to see the overlapping themes reappear in a new light. It’s not a bad song overall, but amongst the rest of this album, I felt it falls short of the appeal of some of the other tracks.
For fans of Broadside’s edgier, darker songs, “The Setting Sun” is the Into the Raging Sea equivalent of a song worthy of “Playing in Traffic” pit. Electrifying guitar riffs and distinctive drums immediately open out the song with high energy, and this fast-paced jam will have fans enthusiastically singing along to the chorus. Complete with an infectiously catchy melody and hopeful lyrics, I can already tell this is bound to be a new favorite for Broadside fans.
“Burning at Both Ends” is the final song on the record, and a beautiful way to end the album. The track is a reflection about someone who has not reciprocated one’s actions and efforts in a relationship, but instead of holding a grudge against them forever, the song is that final step in accepting the situation and forgiving them. Heartbreakingly truthful, the song features Nichols on piano and allows listeners to sit with the entire album after all of the higher-energy tracks.
One of the most wonderful aspects of this record is the consistency and the ongoing exploration of themes and emotions that so effortlessly interlace these tracks together. The cohesive manner in which these songs are connected through various references creates a continual assessment of these ideas and their different meanings throughout the album. Some of the main feelings that are referenced are the question of being good enough, the need to be in control, and the search to feel alive. As an artist, there is always a constant pressure to continue to create new music, go on tour, interact with fans, just completely immerse yourself in your career. At some point, it can take a toll, and there is that moment of reflection of whether or not it’s really worth it to sacrifice so much of yourself, only to possibly lose those feelings of happiness and fulfillment. Are artists simply “selling sadness” because that’s what people want to feel and can relate to, or are they really creating a more meaningful experience by using their art as a platform to make a difference to both themselves and fans?
Water imagery also shows up quite a few times, from the album title to quite a few references within songs: “Standing in the pouring rain / Oh, now you’re soaking wet; what did you expect? / Well, if it’s not so bad, you should learn to swim” (Overdramatic); “I’m drowning from the raging sea inside of me” (The Setting Sun); “Like the desert as it prays for rain / It’s never enough” (Dancing on the Ceiling [With You]). The name of the band itself is a nautical term, so it’s only fitting that they have utilized many water references throughout their discography. Regardless of which album you’re finding them on, Broadside uses comparisons to allude to deeper meanings, such as the feeling of drowning to emphasize the overwhelming pressures of different obstacles or the natural patterns of rain to depict more inevitable and uncontrollable situations.
Something that really stood out to me that easily makes this Broadside’s strongest record to date was the way that this record truly emphasized Baxxter’s vocal ability without straying too far from his electrifying presence in live performances. In the past, Broadside’s work seemed to attempt to create a balance between their two vocalists, which could fail to highlight Baxxter’s unique style. The raw edge to his voice is part of the signature Broadside sound that makes them so distinguishable amongst so many bands in the genre, and it is energizing to finally hear Broadside push him further on this record. It is in Into The Raging Sea that we finally see the most authentic version of the frontman’s voice. You can hear his stage mannerisms seeping through these songs, and they feel like the most comfortable he has ever been in the studio.
Into the Raging Sea proves that Broadside is a band that continues to grow and shape their own sound that reflects their powerful and beautiful stories. This record shows tremendous growth, both lyrically and sonically, and it still manages to appeal to Broadside fans that are looking for that classic Broadside touch of brutal honesty or hopelessly romantic storylines. Additionally, Into the Raging Sea already sounds to be a record that will be replicated almost flawlessly at their shows. Broadside already are a phenomenal live band, and this record really offers them the opportunity to continue to build on their lively performances. By far, this is the most authentically Broadside record that the band has released and is well worth the wait. This is the record that will make Broadside truly a band to remember.