SILENT THEORY:THEORETICALLY SPEAKING: THE ACOUSTIC SESSIONS VOL 1

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The melodic emo-rock outfit Silent Theory are back with an acoustic EP titled Theoretically Speaking: The Acoustic Sessions Vol 1. A poetic showcase of emotions and heartfelt melodies, this album varies heavily from the band’s previous material. Stripped down instrumentals and vulnerable vocals bring out another side of Silent Theory. Released in July, the album has been showing promise on streaming apps such as iTunes and Spotify.

Silent Theory arose from the Midwest, a place called Moscow, Indiana to be exact and the band drew an audience in the late 2000s from the heavy breakdowns and metal elements of their music. What the band does with the new EP is soften their approach while still bearing the same core elements and prose expected in their music, a soulful longing gathering in the acoustic reverbs.

“Lock the world outside and just leave me alone,” is the opening line of the album in “Disintegrate,” a moody, thought-provoking song that follows the melancholy narrative and balances it with temperamental chords and husky vocals. The raw emotions are evoked in the ending when vocalist Dakota Elliot Tyler let’s loose and wails.

“Living the Dream” is the EP’s single which also features a music video. This track in particular with the acoustic melodies and softened vocals are reminiscent of early century songwriters like the Fray or James Blunt. The plucked riffs stand out and elevate the sorrowful undertones of the song’s content.

The instrumentals aren’t to be ignored in any one song off this EP, but the guitar work is a masterpiece of its own, creating imagery and a soundtrack for the lyrics sung. This shows most definitely in “Alice,” a track worth turning the volume all the way up in the silence of a bedroom to feel every aspect, every note sung and every string plucked. Though it’s difficult to piece together what the song’s meaning is about, perhaps that’s the beauty of songwriting and leaving the interpretation up to the listener.

“Fragile Minds (Acoustic Cinematic Version)” is joined with a piano replacing the usual guitar chords, differentiating from the other melodies played in the album. A film-score worthy synth provides a background ambience, giving that cinematic effect.

The strings take spotlight in track five, “Shaking Cages,” as Tyler’s voice finds leverage and power, spitting out verses and repeating the chorus in a defiant tone that finds a newer grounding in this acoustic version compared to the heavier original. He lets himself go the most in this song, matching the energy of the growing instrumentals.

Silent Theory finishes off a downcast EP with a set of folk-styled drumming and faster tempos. “Am I Fixed Yet” brings the mood up for the ending, despite the angsty lyrics that state anything but happy. This is the jam-along of the album.

Theoretically Speaking: The Acoustic Sessions Vol 1 is a daring creation of the band, and whether they uphold themselves just as well stripped down as they do with the metal breakdowns is up to the listener. The EP shows off the band’s songwriting and ability to slow things down in a compelling manner, giving way to hear the band in a different light, and the title suggests there’s room for more like this in the future.

I’m Music Magazine Writer Alice Kearney