Album review: Volumes – Mirror Touch

Volumes have had a proper decent career in their 15-year history. Even with members coming and going, they’ve amassed a strong fanbase, earned millions of streams and created a cracking foundation to build from. Their newest offering, Mirror Touch, however, feels like one of those janky seaside roller-coasters – it has a cracking drop to start, a few promising twists near the end, and a whole lot of mid-section where you’re mostly wondering why you got on in the first place.

To Volumes’ credit, the album launches like they’ve got something to prove. Sidewinder slams in with the sort of heavyweight swagger that reminds you why the band ever muscled their way into the metalcore conversation. It’s punchy, it’s mean, and it’s one of the rare moments here where everything feels alive. Bottom Dollar follows with equal ferocity, showcasing two tracks that genuinely threaten to turn this record into a statement comeback.

But alas, the mid-album slump kicks in with California, which leans so hard into sun-drenched hooks and clichés that it practically shows up wearing flip-flops and shouting ‘surf’s up, dude!’ It’s catchy, but also corny enough to make your teeth squeak. Then there’s Stitch, a track that doesn’t so much miss the mark as forget where the target even is.

Just when hope seems lost, S.O.A.P arrives like a sudden reminder that Volumes can still write a proper earworm when they feel like it. It’s tight and frustratingly good - frustrating because its quality highlights how patchy much of what's around it is. Thankfully, Suffer On, featuring the ever-crushing Black Sheep Wall, closes the album with some good meaty substance. It’s immersive and hints at a direction that could take Volumes somewhere interesting again.

As it stands, Mirror Touch is a record with a killer opening, a strong closing argument, and far too much forgettable filler stuffed in between. There’s promise here, just not quite enough punch behind it.

Verdict: 2/5

For fans of: Bad Omens, I Prevail, Dayseeker

Mirror Touch is released on December 12 Fearless