11. So Far From Me
One Step Closer has always believed that hardcore is limitless. On All You Embrace, the band puts that theory into practice. Every release from the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania band has seen them exploring the sonic overlaps of hardcore, emo, and ‘90s alternative rock without an iota of self-consciousness, or pretension, creeping into the mix. All You Embrace is a collection of 11 songs that show One Step Closer reaching for something deeply honest and, as always, authentic.
With founding members Savitski and guitarist Ross Thompson at the helm of One Step Closer, alongside newest addition Colman O’Brien, the three were able to fearlessly guide One Step Closer in new directions. On All You Embrace, you can hear every element of OSC throughout the record, as they expound upon every idea until each one has achieved its full potential. The result is a record that’s bigger, catchier, and moodier than anything they’ve done before, while still feeling exactly like the band they’ve been building for years.
Taken in full, All You Embrace is the sound of One Step Closer honoring their past while building a future that looks more open, more creative, and more expansive. It’s a place where records like Start Today, Diary, and Floral Green are all in conversation with one another. “We’ve honed in on a central vibe and aesthetic that really speaks to all of us,” says Thompson. “It encapsulates exactly who we’ve become.” When asked who that is, Thomspon answers swiftly and decisively, “We’re One Step Closer, a straight edge band from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.” Sometimes the answers you’re searching for are right in front of you all along.