With “Coming Home”, The Real Anthem have created something truly heartfelt and you can tell that from the opening bars. This band plays with a great sense of conviction, and it's evident in every part of the track. There's a real sense of purpose in it all, and everything seems to have its place.
The song is sung warmly and truthfully by Shawn Helton. It is as if he is saying what he is singing, as if it is his own voice. He brings a nice balance to the harmonies below, not crowding them and not being overpowering. There is still room for each part to come through.
The guitars play a big part here, with some strong riffs driving the song forward and some softer sections providing space. The drums keep everything moving underneath. They provide a big sound, but still sound clear and controlled throughout the song, moving from one section to another.
In terms of what I love the most, it is the growth of the song. It begins in a quieter and slightly distant place, gradually shifts to something larger, and then returns to a smaller size. From there it grows again. The band aren't rushing these changes, and that allows the song to give each section time to settle before moving on.
A sense of return runs through the entire song, as well as the burden of what someone has endured and the need to move forward. The band have said they draw inspiration from their own backgrounds and family experiences in their writing. That's in the song without being explicitly stated.
The music video also adds to the song. It depicts the band in a straightforward and sincere manner, fitting for the style of the music. It doesn't try to make the song seem larger than it is. It simply stays close to the feeling that already exists in the track.
The Real Anthem fuse alternative rock, post-punk and shoegaze, and “Coming Home” is a testament to how naturally those sounds can coexist. The song has various textures and sounds throughout, but it remains a song all on its own. It's a track that works well when you play it right, on headphones of course, and with no other music intruding.
At the end, it's not a specific moment that stays with you, but the overall feeling of the entire song. You feel like you're watching a band working through something and making it their own. “Coming Home” has a feeling that can stay with you, particularly when you know what it is like to bring something with you on the way home.
