The Early November has always been the band in the early 2000s emo/pop punk scene that never seemed to have gotten the recognition they deserved. I’ve always respected their decision to make their debut album a more raw, live sounding studio cut, rather than going in the more polished direction that their peers took. This approach could have played a part in why they weren’t as well-known as artists such as Taking Back Sunday or New Found Glory. Even so, I was shocked to learn that the band had not been invited to participate in any recent nostalgia music festivals, including When We Were Young. It was this omission that inspired their new self-titled album, which happens to be the band’s best material since 2015.

A word that I think of when I think of a band like The Early November is perseverance. This is a lyrical topic that comes up time and time again on the record.  On the bridge of “The Magician,” Enders sings, “It’s what you do with it, just don’t let it take control, and what I did for this, I don’t want to let it go.” Enders cycles the phrase several times, building with intensity each time until he eventually pushes his range at the end of the song with raw emotion.

On “What We Earn,” Enders screams, “Been around enough to know the afterlife, I had to go back for another fight, holding on to breath because it only lasts me for so long.” Here, he’s referring to his longevity in the music industry and how he’s been around long enough to know what it’s like to step away, but now he’s back and he’s going to give it all he’s got.

Another example of perseverance is on “We Hang On.” Here, Enders sings, “I found myself down deep underwater, I told myself to get up, it gets harder, and I know I’m better than this.” Again, another metaphor for how TEN has had to struggle for their success over the years, but they are going to keep getting up and keep fighting.

On “The Dirtiest Things,” Enders breaks into a shouty outro proclaiming, “I could never live without, never live without hope, I never give it up, never give it up, hope I know there’s much more to all this than fortune.” Just another example of how The Early November will persevere and never give up chasing their dreams as artists.

It’s on the album’s second single, “What We Earn,” that Enders approaches the subject of feeling value through his art. The lyrics are spot on the subject, with lines like “I’ve been evaluated and I’m valued by what I bring in.” This song delves into the artist’s struggle to come to terms with how artists are mostly judged in the music industry by what they’re capable of earning from their songs. 

Track 7, “Tired of Lying,” is a high-intensity rocker with an infectious synth line.  This song has the narrator grappling with a difficult past from a personal relationship. “Over and over, you looked for the answers, searching in bottles, blaming your past. I know you’re frustrated, and I’m tired of lying. It’s all been excuses, but I’ll go down trying.” Earlier in the song, the narrator suggests that the person in question had a much easier time growing up than they did and never appreciated the advantage they had. “Eating your father’s gold while I’m polishing my copper.”  

When a band has been around for over twenty years, it can be challenging to evolve their sound while maintaining a connection to the past and looking towards the future. Two great examples of this can be found in “We Hang On” and “The Dirtiest Things.” On “We Hang On,” the band keeps the guitars more subdued and incorporates emotive pop melodies in the verses. The chorus brings in big drums, but the focus of the song is on parallel vocal phrasing often used in pop music. “The Dirtiest Things” sees the band using electronic drum loops and synths in a way that’s completely unique to their discography. All of this leads to an explosion at the end of the song that feels like classic The Early November.

Speaking of which, it’s worth mentioning how this album starts off with four songs that embody everything you’d expect from an Early November record. “The Empress,” “The Magician,” and “About Me” all feature infectious pop-punk-tinged choruses at various tempos, while “What We Earn” might be one of the heaviest songs the band has ever written. 

I think it’s important to take a moment to point out the work of Sam Guaiana, who mixed the record. The mix on this record is what really sets it apart from the band’s last few albums. This is especially evident with how Ender’s voice sounds. On the last few albums, his voice could sound a bit overproduced at times, losing the raw elements that make TEN such a special band. Sam was able to keep those raw elements while also making the album sound like a huge rock record.

Only time will tell if The Early November’s new self-titled album will stand with the band’s early work. Regardless, this album will be considered a fantastic addition to the band’s discography. On the closing track, “It Will Always Be,” an acoustic ballad, Enders sings the lyrics “It will always be, you and me.” It’s a fitting message to the fans and a great way to sign off on a self-titled record.

Rating: 9.4/10

Release date: 6/14/24

Track list:

1. The Empress

2. The Magician

3. About Me

4. What We Earn

5. We Hang On

6. The Fool

7. Tired Of Lying

8. The Dirtiest Things

9. The High Priestess

10. It Will Always Be