Finally! After months of waiting the highly anticipated debut album from Arcade State is here. Since the release of title track Life Is Not Linear in October this record has been the talk of the Scottish music scene, let me tell you it was definitely worth waiting for.

Setting the tone from the very start with Dissonant the boys show they aren’t here to mess around their intentions were made clear from the first second Arcade State are here to blow your socks off. Starting off with just vocalist Ciaran delivering some of his most venerable lyrics to date with a gorgeous soft guitar melody underneath it was the perfect choice to highlight the rawness and purity of what’s to come on the rest of the record. As soon as the band come in on the chorus you are met with this explosive instrumental that just brings you so much emotion it feels like a heart trying to burst through a chest it’s so captivating and gives you a glimmer of what to expect for the next 40 minutes.

Nothing But War follows and is another example of the diversity the band has while also being able to capture their authentic sound highlighted in the second half of this track but specifically the outro which may catch some off guard but fans of the boys know that they can pull these things out the locker when you least expect it. One thing I love about the record is how it flows from one track to another such a small detail that really does enhance the listening experience a great example of this is the transition from Nothing But War to Thunderstatement.

We’ve covered Thunderstatement before but I have to stress the transition into that opening scream really did add a little something for me that made me enjoy it that little bit more. Next up is the title track Life Is Not Linear A personal favourite of mine the song that built anticipation and excitement a song that I have deemed the quintessential Arcade State song this one will always be special to me personally and again I love the extended outro on the album leading in to what could be the most personal song on the record for the band.

Lost In Your Screams is a track dedicated to the Murray brothers late sister Chelsea the brothers have recently posted on social media that this track was dedicated to her and was the most emotional track for them on the record. Losing someone so close to you is one of the toughest things we can go through in life the boys have created something so beautiful and powerful to commemorate their late sister it’s something they should both be incredibly proud of.

I had the pleasure of hearing My World Is Grey last April at the bands sold out King Tuts show and was glad that it was on the record this song is such a joy to listen to I’m a sucker for a male and female duet so having two of the best vocalists Scotland has to offer currently doing one is everything I could ask for and much more. The blend of both voices sounds angelic at times the song provides a real goosebumps moment for sure. This song features the very talented Kirsteen Harvey who is on the rise currently and has a brand new EP out tomorrow which you guys should check out.

Speaking of seeing the boys live here is the information to hear the full album live in person

Flowers follows which we have already covered on the site I do need to add without trying to sound like a broken record all of the singles were fantastic but hearing the record as a whole and finding a home for the singles really does elevate them in my opinion.

Lacuna has to be one of the best songs in the bands discography for me it has everything I love about the band wrapped up in to 3 minutes and 31 seconds of pure perfection. Everything comes together perfectly on this song every element stands out lyrically it’s phenomenal, the instrumental is so catchy and gorgeous on the ear and then we come to that breakdown something these boys have perfected over the last 12 months is being able to capture their gritty live sound while in the studio it translates so well on this record but especially with this song.

The Barrens has sleeper track written all over it I feel like over time this track will grown on a lot of people but for me is one of the best on the record I just love the mix of the acoustic guitar with the rest of the band going full pelt it just sounds loud and bold and sums up everything the band have tried to do with this record. We need to talk about the build up into that aggressive scream from Ciaran a scream that at this point in the record felt like it had been building and had to be released perfect time for it and then to slow things down at the end at fade it out just phenomenal stuff.

We spoke about transitions earlier I don’t think anything could’ve topped Interlude being the riff of Paper Heart being played on a xylophone the introduction is so beautiful and gentle to what has to be the bands more chaotic yet dirtiest track to date. Paper Heart is the perfect end to this record those breakdown are volatile and vicious in the most beautiful way the aggression has been slowly building throughout and it had to be unleashed in this manor what a way to end your debut album.

Top 3 Tracks

• 1. Lacuna
• 2. Dissonant
• 3. The Barrens

A real rollercoaster of emotions throughout this album some soft and gentle moments some gruesome grungy moments all tied together by determination and commitment to their graft. I know the Murray brothers have been mentioned a lot throughout but it would be a disservice to the others to not mention their input throughout this record Cammy, Lewis and Callum all deserve a huge amount of appreciation as well. Life Is Not Linear truly is an outstanding body of work presented by one of the best bands out there at moment these 5 boys should be incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished with this record I think all that’s left to say is bring on album 2!