Photos by Mark Hoffman

It has been eight years since the Long Island emo-rockers released an album. In this time rumors developed about, the 2009 album, Daisy being their final album; but those rumors were cleared up by the band, with the news that they were writing new material. Since then, Brand New has kept fans clinging to hope of new music, while slowly ripping out their hearts. With multiple new songs, unreleased 2006 demos on a three song EP, and a 7" pressing of a couple singles; there was plenty of 'new' material for fans to get their hands on. However, within these releases were rumors of the end of the band, that began to look like more than just rumors.

Photos by Mark Hoffman

In 2015 the band sent out lyric booklets for their album The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me, as part of an unfulfilled $1 offer made nine years earlier.Included with these booklets was a postcard with the words "rip 2018." To further force the idea that 2018 would be the end, in the summer of 2016 the band released t-shirts with "2000-2018" on them. And during their tour kick-off with Modest Mouse, in June 2016, Jesse Lacey verbally confirmed the band’s end, telling the audience: “We’re done. Oh yeah, we’re done" while prepping his guitar between songs.

In September 2016, the band disappointed eager fans by announcing that the previously promised new album would not be released in 2016. The band also announced that it would be celebrating the 10-year anniversary of The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me by playing it in its entirety for the remainder of the tour they were on. Fast forward to August 15, 2017 --- The band took to social media to announce that the new album would be released on vinyl in October, and was available for preorder. Just a couple days later, a select 500 individuals that preordered the album received a single track CD, titled Science Fiction, in the mail.

In the last five years, surprise albums have actually seen a lot of success; or major artists like Beyonce and Jay-Z, at least. So what makes Science Fiction so special? Well, this is it --- This could very well be the final dozen songs released by Brand New; it's the long-awaited album that has been rumored, teased, and delayed.

The 12 song album serves as a look back through the band's entire discography. There are songs that resemble each of the previous album's while being a completely new material that stands out on its own. While listening to the album, the first time through, I found myself lost in the incredibly crafted material; much like watching a painter create a masterpiece from a blank canvas. By the end of it i'm left puzzled, amazed, and inspired. Nothing about the album stands out in particular, it holds up just as they sent out the 500 CD copies; a single, one hour long, track.

Simply put, Science Fiction is Brand New perfection --- 5 out of 5. The album will officially ship in October and you can purchase the album HERE. Science Fiction is also now available through Apple Music and iTunes

Find Brand New athttps://www.facebook.com/BrandNew/https://www.instagram.com/brandnewrockhttps://twitter.com/brandnewrockhttp://www.fightoffyourdemons.com

Review by Mark Hoffman