Review: BACKTOEARTH'S CONTINUE WITHOUT SAVING is a less than direct continuation of 2023's, DEATH TO THE EARTH BOYS, completing a narrative that's been carefully crafted.

It’s time to wake up. Shed yourself from the comforts of your own bad habits and take the first harsh breath of real air. But know that once you do, there is no checkpoint to return to. No save point in this atmosphere to try again. ATL metal band BACKTOEARTH asks the million-dollar question: Would you like to continue without saving? 

BACKTOEARTH has emerged from a well-kept secret in the local scene to a fully-fledged arm of tenacity. Their sophomore LP, “CONTINUE WITHOUT SAVING”, is a less than direct continuation of their previous record, “DEATH TO THE EARTH BOYS”. It serves as a yin to the first LP’s yang and completes the narrative that was carefully crafted. We are pulled from the safe bets and instant gratification that we are all keen to turn to when in distress. We are pushed into the real world; forced to trudge forward with the glimmer of hope that we have the capability of repairing the world ourselves. Within the record, we are confronted with the finality in the decisions we make and how that affects the goals we strive to achieve. 

The brilliance in the narrative is obviously indicative of vocalist Brandon Antonio Wallace’s background in film. These liminal lyrics have a smoke and mirror effect of a sarcastically immature face; but a realistic and sometimes cynical point of view. His creative direction, alongside guitarist Kameron Kreuger, sheds a light on many of the fabled video game and media aesthetics of the late 90’s and the early 2000’s. The touch of familiarity with the guitar riffs used is something to behold without tuning out of it. The maximalism that fueled genres like nu-metal is on full display here, though it would be narrow to classify them under such an umbrella. At times, the band ventures into more ambient sound with songs like “Celestial Lullaby” and “DDOS” while keeping their signature intensity intact.

This is yet another project that producer and engineer Dom Maduri has elevated into a larger sound. It seems that everything that Maduri touches transforms local bands we know and love into sonic greatness machines. With any studio though, it takes two to tango. BACKTOEARTH looked back at their drawing board and said “This is who we are”. The subtle nods to tones from our childhoods(if you’re a 90’s baby) are littered throughout the mix. It’s a touching piece of ear candy to add to an already nostalgia-crammed adventure. It’s a big step they understand they can’t take back. I would ask you to join me in asking the band to “keep on trucking”. BACKTOEARTH are moments away from artistic nirvana, and they just gave us the final warning shot.