The best way to follow up a successful album is usually by honing in your songwriting and realizing the traits that made said album successful. It’s a fine line, though. Some bands go completely left-field and alienate fans and critics in the process, others choose to double down on thematically similar motifs in the process. And then there’s bands like Chevelle, who routinely stick to a familiar formula – yet no two albums from the band sound exactly the same. 2002’s sophomore album Wonder What’s Next helped establish the band’s (general) songwriting formula. Punchy riffs that were definitely influenced by cerebral alt-metal bands like Helmet and Tool, rumbling bass that sounds THICC AF, and (usually) cryptic lyrics that are open to interpretation are all part of the Chevelle playbook.
At their core, Chevelle is a “heavy melodic rock band” (an interview sourced from Wikipedia tells us this, anyway), and that’s quite apparent on 2004’s This Type Of Thinking (Could Do Us In).
The album’s subject matter truly runs the gamut. “The Clincher” actually isn’t about Jesus Christ’s crucifixion (as many had conjectured, given the band’s ties to the Christian music scene and the lyrics), but is about claustrophobia. Lead single (and one of the band’s most popular songs) “Vitamin R (Leading Us Along)” is not subtle at all – it’s about a friend of the Loefflers who was prescribed Ritalin as a child. Considering the album was released in 2004 as the effects of the medication were becoming more known, it was a (relatively) new subject at the time to tackle. It’s one of their most accessible singles as well, with heavy riffs juxtaposing with huge melodies.
This Type Of Thinking does have a couple requisite mid-tempo songs, some softer than others. “Panic Prone” is a particularly good example of this type of song, where it’s essentially about both drug addiction and the indecision we can all face when it comes time to make a tough decision. Relatable, tbh. There’s also “Emotional Drought”, which seeks to turn turmoil into positive change, and album highlight “Breach Birth”, which might have the album’s most anthemic chorus. Meanwhile, comparisons to the crunchy riffs of Tool and Helmet certainly abound on “To Return”. Much like the rest of the album (and the band as a whole), it’s extremely bass-heavy.
It wouldn’t be a Chevelle record without (almost) unrelentingly heavy moments, of course. “Still Running”, which originally appeared in a more palatable form on the Punisher soundtrack, is a good example of this. A traditional Chevelle song with melodic verses and an explosive chorus, it undoubtedly brings the nasty riffs. The sometimes overlooked “Another Know It All” is one of the most menacing songs Chevelle have ever put to tape, with the last 20 seconds or so of the track going double time with crushing guitars.
In short, This Type Of Thinking continued to deliver the alternative metal that the band is known for. Chevelle’s consistency is something to be admired – and it’s amazing what a power trio was able to pull off here.
