Album Review: Expiration Date:

The debut album from Liam Gonen – Expiration Date: has found its way onto my review list today. Liam released his first single Judas back in 2022, and while there may be a bit of a vibe shift to the melody with Expiration Date: from his previous work, his unique vocal style and lyrical work are still prominent on this latest release.

Opening the album with Lost (one of my favourites from this release), I find myself wanting to sit and stare out of a window on a rainy day with a cup of tea and enjoy the melancholy – in a good way. I’m a fan of the slow but melodic guitar, the mellow backing track is soothing, and Liam’s vocals on this track at their best.

Further down the line, I find myself appreciating the juxtaposition of upbeat music with much more downcast lyrics. This is highlighted on tracks like Hopeless and Take Me There. The beats on Expiration Date: could be called simple, but they fit well with the style and are a strong driving force behind the tracks. The more I hear of them the more I enjoy them.

One track that caught my attention early was Break Me, which was first released as a single last year. I’m pleased to see it feature on the album. It’s a strong track for Liam, the faster tempo and driving beat combined with Liam’s lyrics make this a great Halloween choice. Whilst being a shift from the rest of the album, it’s a standout track.

In all fairness, Expiration Date: isn’t in my usual genre wheelhouse. However, I found it to be a pleasant introduction. I’ll be very interested to see what’s next for Liam and how his style develops on future releases. Expiration Date: is available for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music now.