Album review: Trophy Eyes – Suicide And Sunshine

Suicide And Sunshine could have been the last we’d ever hear from Trophy Eyes. The small matter of a pandemic – during which restrictions in their native Australia were some of the most rigidly enforced in the world – took the joy out of band life for the quartet, who were barely able to do anything together spread across different cities. It was nearly curtains, and yet, in the studio, they found the magic again. Listen closely enough to this, their fourth album, and it’s possible to feel some of that magic for yourself.

Though they’re hardly known for being light and fluffy, Trophy Eyes are preoccupied with a monumental concept – that is, life’s infinite capacity for the most joyous and the most horrific of events to play out. At one end of the spectrum, their output glimmers with a quiet beauty. Life In Slow Motion, an ode to life’s small moments of pleasantry, unfurls like a blossoming flower from hushed to arms-wide euphoria, while intimate acoustic ballad Sweet Soft Sound sees frontman John Floreani serenade the love of his life with his heart overflowing.

The emotion is constantly at the fore, and though sometimes the sonics feel secondary to the message, it isn’t necessarily a fault. There’s plenty of eclectic, often extra-genre flourishes too, from the whistling synths on Blue Eyed Boy to the majestic organ on Stay Here and the fading echoes of electronics closing dazzling late album highlight OMW.

But when things get heavy, they become devastating. People Like You, a savage take on pop-punk about John’s experiences growing up considerably poorer than his middle-class peers, delivers a crushing refrain that’s all too topical. 'Life’s not fair but it’s nearly over / Dying’s cheaper than growing older.' Most harrowing of all, however, is Sean, which eschews sentimental tributes for a more original and effective approach, diarising the day John found out his friend had taken his own life in unsparing detail, including his regret over the last thing he said to him.

This record would have been a beautiful parting gift from Trophy Eyes – but even though they’re remaining together, Suicide And Sunshine remains a gift nonetheless.

Verdict: 5/5

For fans of: Trash Boat, Movements, La Dispute

Suicide And Sunshine is out now via Hopeless