CREDIT: THE QUIET THINGS
Available March 24, this Markham-based band hits the high notes in this moody but upbeat tale of love and love lost.

The Quiet Things is a new three-piece rock band based out of Markham, Ont. The band has only been around for a year and a half, but it is already releasing its debut full-length album.

The Fall will drop on March 24, but in the meantime, you can listen to the first single “Secrets” off of the band's website. While the band's name may be a little misleading, these indie rockers pack a huge punch. The Fall blends crisp, catchy guitar riffs with explosive drums that are evenly matched by a powerful female vocalist. Listening to this album is like having Hayley Williams sing for a heavier version of The Arctic Monkeys.

The opening track, “Secrets,” sets the pace for this album, focusing on captivating guitar riffs and catchy lyrics. It has a nice dynamic throughout, with a powerful opening guitar riff that subsides into a soft verse carried by lush bass tones. It's not often that the bass plays such a crucial role in rock songs, but The Quiet Things uses it to the full advantage. Although it's missing from the radio edit, the album closer, “Secrets (Extended Version),” boasts one of the best slap bass breakdown of 2015. Another highlight bass track from this album resides in “Choke,” which is arguably the heaviest song on The Fall, featuring dark riffs traded back and forth between the bass and guitars.

Perhaps the highest point of The Fall can be found in the album's softest song, “One.” It can be a little hit and miss when a heavier band strips down its sound to just an acoustic guitar and vocals, but the softness of this melody highlights the raw emotion in vocals. Without the distractions of distorted guitars and crashing drums, we can fully focus on sorrowful singing and this ends up becoming quite an intimate song. It isn't until nearly the end of “One” that the rest of the band joins in to create an energetic reprise of the chorus that effectively progresses the song. “One” brings a refreshing dose of variety that prevents this album from getting stale with repeat listens. I only wish it came sooner in the track list.

Although The Quiet Things can get a little moody at times, this album remains upbeat and aggressive from beginning to end. The Fall is a great album to help you gear up for the spring weather — sunshine and thunderstorms alike. Whether you're cleaning your house or heading out on a road trip, this album provides a grand soundtrack that grows on you more and more with each listen.

This album gets a little bitter at times but remains upbeat throughout flirts between anger and bitter sadness weaved throughout tales of love and love lost.

Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5