Is Wildness a good place to start with Snow Patrol?

Yes, Wildness is recommended as a starting point for new Snow Patrol listeners. Lush melodies intertwine with introspective lyrics, creating a reflective soundscape that explores themes of love, loss, and resilience. Released in 2018, Wildness is Snow Patrol's first album in seven years, following their commercial peak with Fallen Empires in 2011. This album marks a significant return after a hiatus that included personal struggles for frontman Gary Lightbody, influencing the emotional depth of the songs.

Wildness works well if you're into steady emotional exploration, reflective journey through life and mid-tempo flow for introspection.

How many songs are on Wildness?

Wildness has 10 tracks, running approximately 44 minutes.

Wildness

Snow Patrol · 2018

44 min · 10 tracks · alternative rock

Lush melodies intertwine with introspective lyrics, creating a reflective soundscape that explores themes of love, loss, and resilience.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Life on Earth Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Don't Give In — This track serves as an anthem of perseverance, encapsulating the album's overarching message of resilience through captivating instrumentation and heartfelt lyrics.
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Heal Me — With its poignant narrative about self-acceptance and healing, this song exemplifies the emotional core of Wildness, making it a standout piece.
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A Youth Written in Fire — This track reflects on the passage of time and the complexities of growing up, effectively balancing nostalgia with a sense of urgency that resonates throughout the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

51 /100

Foothills

Higher than 34% of albums we've rated

The album combines lush melodies with introspective lyrics, creating a reflective soundscape.

What we noticed

The album opens with a slow build in 'Life on Earth', gradually layering instrumentation before introducing vocals.
Several tracks, such as 'Don’t Give In' and 'Heal Me', feature dynamic shifts between quiet verses and anthemic choruses.
The final track, 'Life and Death', concludes the album with a reflective tone, leaving a lingering sense of introspection.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 5/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. 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

steady emotional exploration
reflective journey through life
mid-tempo flow for introspection
thoughtful moments of connection

Maybe skip if you

prefer high-energy tracks
seek instant gratification

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Late Career Highlight — This album marks a strong return after a hiatus, showcasing continued artistic vitality.
Themes: personal struggle· self-acceptance journey· nostalgic urgency
Moods: Introspective· Chill
Career context: Released in 2018, Wildness is Snow Patrol's first album in seven years, following their commercial peak with Fallen Empires in 2011. This album marks a significant return after a hiatus that included personal struggles for frontman Gary Lightbody, influencing the emotional depth of the songs.
Stylistic neighbors: Coldplay· Keane· The Fray