REVIEW: THOUSAND BELOW ‘LET GO OF YOUR LOVE’; 17 MINUTES OF HEARTBREAK AND REMINISCENCE

San Diego post-hardcore outfit Thousand Below have released their latest project, let go of your love, an acoustic EP that features a new song by the same title as well as four reimagined versions of songs off the band’s last album, Gone In Your Wake.

The EP starts with none other than the title track, “let go of your love”. Within seconds, James DeBerg takes listeners to the place of introspection and self-reconciliation he’s speaking from, and the music video affirms the song’s theme of heartbreaking, nostalgic reminiscence. What I liked most about “let go of your love” is how it’s so minimal and moving; I won’t lie– I definitely squandered the idea of the song being recorded as a full-band version, or even being a B-Side track off of Gone In Your Wake, but due its raw, emotional nature, “let go of your love” stands out amongst the band’s discography as it is in the best way possible.

“chemical” gets an R&B remix for the EP and features Dead Lakes vocalist, Sumner Peterson. This version of “chemical” puts a refreshing twist on the sound Thousand Below listeners might be used to, but it’s not just different in terms of sound. I like to think vocal features are best utilized in songs when they can bring a second perspective to the table, and this time around, Peterson does exactly that. The bridge in this version of the song has much more of a round-singing feel to it and caught my attention a lot more than the original’s counterpart, making the song’s reimagination not only better, but more captivating.

Just when listeners might be under the assumption the entire EP is going to be sad or somber, the reimagined “alone (out of my head)” offers a change of tempo in a good place. It’s catchy, and the harmonies in the vocals were a nice touch. This song is just good, and in my opinion, better than the original. Lyrics like “you’re the reason I choose feelings over everybody else I knew” take center stage on the acoustic rendition of “171 xo”, and this open letter to a past lover makes the theme of the EP that much more “in your face”.

let go of your love ends with “lost between”. The original version of this song is heavier and has a more anthemic feel to it; the stripped-back version of the song assigns a new definition to “heavy”. The beats and instrumentation drive this song, and stylistically, “lost between” is where DeBerg’s vocals get another chance to really shine on the EP.

What I appreciated most about let go of your love is how cohesive and genuine it felt from start to finish– stylistically, musically, and lyrically. It’s clear Thousand Below pondered each aspect of how they would approach reimagining their songs– more specifically which songs to reimagine– to fit an overall theme for the EP, took their creativity, and ran with it. Go stream let go of your love.

Favorite Songs: lost between, alone (out of my head)