Closure

The Exies

June 28, 2024

Review by: Ally Arens

Album Art provided by PR

2000s hard-rockers The Exies have made a smashing return onto the rock scene with their latest EP, Closure, their first extended release in over 15 years and a long-awaited follow-up to 2007’s A Modern Way of Living With the Truth. Closure follows-up their surprise single release “Spirits High” in January of 2023, and features that track alongside 5 additional compositions to kick off a new era of The Exies that signifies a return to their roots while remaining fresh and relevant. The current line-up, consisting of original vocalist Scott Stevens alongside returning members Freddy Herrera, Chris Skane, and Dennis Wolfe on bass, guitar, and drums, respectively, is back and ready to rock with this new release. 

Kicking off the EP is its official lead single “For What It’s Worth”, and it does so with a bang. The track’s instrumentals are headbang-worthy, while the lyrics offer a message that I can best paraphrase as “sometimes you gotta go through some shit to come out the other side stronger”.

The next track is the aforementioned comeback single “Spirits High”, which starts out softer and ballad-like, but quickly takes a turn for the anthemic by the time the first chorus rolls around. “Spirits High” touches on themes of isolation as well as self-acceptance. One of the most standout lyrics in my opinion is the line “How do I tell my friends that I feel better by myself?” As an introvert who acknowledges the need for social interaction while also having a very limited “social battery,” so to speak, I can relate all too well to the sentiment of not wanting to let other people down while needing to take time for oneself to recharge.  

The center of the EP is where I believe its true highlights lie, with the pair of tracks “s.A.D.” and “Euphoria.” Both tracks tackle the heavy topics of depression and mental health, but with different approaches. “s.A.D.” is the more melancholic of the two, and the slowest track of the release, but this slower pace allows the lyrical depth to take center stage. The lines “It’s like I’m braindead, but I’m awake.” and the repeated chorus line “I’m so sick, sick, sick of being sad,” offer a harrowing, yet relatable, take that is sure to resonate with many listeners.

“s.A.D.” is followed up by “Euphoria”, which is definitely the heaviest track instrumentally on the EP, and feels like it would receive the yearbook superlative for “most likely to become a live set staple”. The guitars are heavy AF, and the chorus lyric “Is this euphoria, ‘cause I can’t feel a thing?” feels primed for a cathartic sing-along at a show.

The closing tracks, “The Hill” and title track “Closure,” take things in an introspective direction, examining life and legacy. “The Hill” is focused on thoughts of trying to make it through life and all it’s struggles, ex. “Trying to get over the hill”, while “Closure” provokes thoughts of what will be left after we’re all gone. Near the end of the song, Stevens sings “I came here all alone, and I’ll go out just the same,” a sentiment that I would not doubt has crossed many-a-mind at some time or another.

Overall, Closure is a worthy listen for any fans of The Exies’ earlier work, of Scott Stevens’ other co-writing endeavors (he’s written for Halestorm, Nothing More, Shinedown, and more), or for anyone just looking for some good ‘ol rock-n-roll. 

Closure is streaming now, and be sure to follow The Exies on social media to see what they have up their sleeves next.