New Brunswick’s Engage have spent the last few years quietly refining a sound that refuses to be pinned down. Founded in 2020 by the Hall of Fame songwriter Carla Bonnell and Rick Bartlett, the group has recently expanded into a robust four-piece with the addition of Greg Mansfield and Vernon Daigle. Their latest offering, ‘The Master Plan’, is a twelve-track collection that serves as a definitive statement of intent, blending the grit of rock with the narrative warmth of country and folk.
The album benefits from a crisp production style, engineered by Bonnell herself and polished by Jim Zolis in Toronto. It is a record of two parts, incorporating the previously released ‘Side Eh’ tracks into a larger, more ambitious narrative. Bassist Vernon Daigle describes the project as being "out of the ordinary with a vintage sound," and that assessment holds water. There is a tangible, analogue quality to the arrangements that feels grounded and lived-in, avoiding the clinical over-production often found in modern crossover records.
New tracks, like opening numbers, ‘Rain’ and ‘Collecting Memories’, deliver an immediate fix of folk and country sounds that have been lovingly spliced with a rock kick. A standout moment lands in the familiar ‘I Wish You Had Told Me’, a mid-tempo track that prioritises space and atmosphere. A steady, rhythmic pulse anchored by vocal harmonies shines, while in contrast, songs like ‘Guitar Strings’ and ‘Sea Chase’ shifts the energy upward. The former is an unapologetic celebration of the craft, featuring the infectious refrain, "Let those guitar strings ring / all night long." They’re songs where the lyrical themes of resilience and personal growth tread familiar ground, the sincerity of the delivery prevents the material from feeling derivative.
In the closing moments, songs like ‘In Common’, a piano-led piece that highlights the band’s versatility, and the charming, rhythmic ‘Unbattered', shine. They move away from the brighter, rustic foundations of the earlier tracks, leaning into melodic, emotionally charged sounds that linger after the final note.
Reflecting on the recording process, Bonnell noted: "We were definitely finding our sound in this album, and we think we are just getting started because we can't box ourselves in, we write because we love to, and whatever that ends up being is cool with us."
This sense of freedom is the record’s greatest strength; ‘The Master Plan’ succeeds because it feels like a band playing for the right reasons. It is a solid, engaging step forward for one of Atlantic Canada’s most promising acts. Keep up with Engage’s latest updates and tour dates on their official website or find them today on Instagram and Facebook.
