Abandcalledlove – Thriving Season

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There’s something to be said when a young band fully realizes their vision for their music right off the bat. Abandcalledlove has released their debut EP, called Thriving Season, that tackles the themes of resilience, addiction and recovery, paired with ultra-relatable elements like the complexities of relationships. The band was formed in early 2020 by Ryan Chandler Love (vocals/guitar/keyboards) and Ian Joshua Riley (guitar/production), while later adding into the fold Blake Aldridge (guitar), Brooks Roberts (bass) and Austin Yagle (drums). “Thriving Season is exactly what its title suggests,” Love explains. “It represents growth, struggle, and finally learning how to embrace yourself and your surroundings. Every song carries a piece of that journey, and I think listeners will connect with the vulnerability as much as the energy.” By putting a strong first step forward, Abandcalledlove have delivered the music that is sure to win over plenty of new fans willing to take a chance on “love.”

The EP opens with a synth-laden track called “love.” that captures the atmospheric vibes of falling in love, while the song bleeds into my personal favorite from the set, “Infinite”. It’s on songs like this, with the anthemic vocal delivery of passionate lyrics penned by Ryan Love that the band kick into a new gear. The song is reminiscent of early-The Dangerous Summer, paired with Acceptance and The Ataris stylistic choices made throughout the vibrant single. By the time the final lyric of “What a time to be alive” is played out, it’s hard to not agree with Abandcalledlove, as this year continues to deliver unique surprises with returning bands and an endless amount of great new music, that now includes this band too.

”A Liar!” follows in the sequencing for Thriving Season and it takes a moment to get going, but when it does in the pre-chorus and chorus sections, look out. The slow-build to the hook isn’t rushed and instead lets the listener anticipate when the explosion of sound comes in the form of a guitar solo paired with a different vocal cadence from the engaging front-man who sounds as energized as ever here. “The Love I Can’t Let Go” dives head first in a cool musical arrangement, paired with lyrical context regarding toxic relationships that are hard to move on from, and the band takes a complex beat and makes for another memorable moment in the set that is brimming with endless possibilities and potential for this young band. The album closer of “Untitled/New Year Theme” begins with softly-sung vocals over a piano, while the back half of the two-part song adds in some guitars and wraps up with some steady drums in the distance much like a beating heart behind each of Ryan’s lyrics. Debut EPs aren’t always this great, but Abandcalledlove certainly found lightning in a bottle with their first collection of songs that play off of each other nicely here.

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