Cope

With the thundering opening riff of "Top Notch," Manchester Orchestra signal the heavy, guitar-driven direction of Cope. A flurry of cymbal crashes, pinch harmonics, palm mutes, and throaty roars quickly follow, filling each song with unprecedented urgency and force. While distorted hooks and explosive drums take center stage on the quintet’s fourth album, frontman Andy Hull overlays it all with ample vulnerability, brought to life through his signature blend of earnest lyrics and painstakingly perfected harmonies. As usual, Hull explores a range of bleak topics, but the restless tempo and lively choruses here are more concerned with headbanging than reflection. The relentless guitar onslaught and solemn lyrics stitch together like a minotaur, both unapologetically fierce and human.