What makes Stage Four by Touché Amoré notable?

Stage Four received widespread critical acclaim and was featured on numerous year-end lists, highlighting its emotional depth and mature sound. The album's exploration of grief, particularly following the loss of frontman Jeremy Bolm's mother, resonated with listeners and showcased the band's evolution within the genre. Released in January 2016, Stage Four is Touché Amoré's fourth studio album, following their acclaimed 2013 release, Is Survived By. The band was transitioning into deeper thematic explorations after gaining significant recognition within the post-hardcore scene.

Who is Stage Four for?

Stage Four works well if you're into cathartic emotional release, steady, consistent pacing and introspective listening experiences.

How many songs are on Stage Four?

Stage Four has 11 tracks, running approximately 32 minutes.

Released 10 years ago

Stage Four

Touché Amoré · 2016

32 min · 11 tracks · post-hardcore

Intensely personal post-hardcore anthems collide with raw emotion and intricate melodies, capturing both grief and resilience.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Flowers and You — This opening track sets the emotional tone for the album, combining melodic instrumentation with poignant lyrics that reflect on loss and memory.
→
New Halloween — The track stands out for its frenetic energy and vivid imagery, encapsulating feelings of nostalgia intertwined with a sense of dread.
→
Benediction — This song serves as a cathartic moment on the album, featuring a raw vocal delivery that articulates vulnerability amid themes of acceptance.
→
Water Damage — With its layered instrumentation and reflective lyrics, this track embodies the struggle between despair and hope, showcasing the band's growth.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

66 /100

Alpine

Higher than 89% of albums we've rated

The album's emotional depth and dynamic structure create a compelling experience, marking it as a standout in its genre.

What we noticed

The album features a consistent use of dynamic shifts, with many tracks alternating between quiet, introspective verses and explosive choruses.
Several songs incorporate spoken word sections that add a layer of emotional weight and personal narrative to the music.
The last two tracks slow down significantly, creating a reflective atmosphere that contrasts with the earlier intensity.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

cathartic emotional release
steady, consistent pacing
introspective listening experiences
short, impactful tracks

Where this album fits

Career context: Released in January 2016, Stage Four is Touché Amoré's fourth studio album, following their acclaimed 2013 release, Is Survived By. The band was transitioning into deeper thematic explorations after gaining significant recognition within the post-hardcore scene.
Stylistic neighbors: La Dispute· Pianos Become the Teeth· Defeater

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Flowers and You 3:34
2 New Halloween 3:28
3 Rapture 3:12
4 Displacement 2:11
5 Benediction 3:40
6 Eight Seconds 1:32
7 Palm Dreams 2:27
8 Softer Spoken 1:56
9 Posing Holy 2:48
10 Water Damage 3:53
11 Skyscraper 3:53

What to play next

Listen next

Dead Horse X

2019

Go back to

Is Survived By

2013

Full Touché Amoré discography Artists like Touché Amoré

post-hardcore

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata