The Script's fourth studio album, 2014's No Sound Without Silence, finds the Irish outfit moving somewhat away from the bright, R&B-influenced production of 2012's #3 and back toward the anthemic and heartfelt melodic rock of their first two albums.
Once again showcasing the talents of lead singer/songwriter Danny O'Donoghue (freshly relieved of his duties as judge on The Voice UK), guitarist Mark Sheehan, and drummer Glen Power, No Sound Without Silence was produced by the band along with primary assistance from longtime collaborator Andrew Frampton, who had previously worked on all three of the Script's albums.
Largely written and recorded while on tour, the album has an organic, back to basics vibe that sounds well-suited to live performance.
There's also one track, the rousing "Flares," co-written by One Republic's Ryan Tedder, that speaks to the earnestness and emotional depth on display throughout all of No Sound Without Silence.
Many of the cuts here, including the uplifting "The Energy Never Dies," and the equally heartfelt "Never Seen Anything 'Quite Like You'," while certainly benefiting from a pristine studio sheen, nonetheless retain an unmistakably live aesthetic, with a nice balance of acoustic and electric instrumentation.
There's a widescreen warmth to the production on the album that brings to mind the resonance of an old-school orchestra hall.
Fittingly, on a few of the songs here, including "Paint the Town Green," and "Hail Rain or Sunshine, the Script delve into their Irish roots, imbuing their exuberant rock with a rollicking, Celtic influence, replete with fiddle and percussive, traditional Irish dance rhythms.
Ultimately, No Sound Without a Silence is the sound of the Script rediscovering their roots.
As O'Donoghue sings on "Hail Rain or Sunshine," "You may see this place and find no worth, but it's our little piece of Heaven here on Earth.".