Review Summary: In Kristen May's first album in her tenure with Flyleaf, she brings a shot of much-needed adrenaline to this hard rock quintet and answers the skeptics.
Flyleaf certainly had their share with success when their debut album hit shelves in 2005. Almost a decade after, longtime lead singer, the mini but mighty Lacey Sturm called it quits. In this genre, a lot of bands tend to stumble upon losing their original vocalist (see Three Days Grace.) Flyleaf, not wanting to let down their legions of fans, bring former Vedera vocalist Kristen May on board, and the end result here on their first record together is nothing short of impressive.
Even if you liked and still preferred the angst-fueled and harsh vocals that Sturm had used to make Flyleaf so distinct, you will be pulled right in by May's captivating voice. Lead off single and opening track "Set Me on Fire" is easily the hardest rocker on this album. From a quality standpoint, this song sets the standard for the rest of the album as May's alluring touch puts a proper spin on this track, which utilizes a series of guitar solos that will have you head-banging as this plays in your car. Tracks like "Magnetic" and "Traitor" allows the group to let the tempo and momentum come to them as these tracks revolve around May. Not far from flawless though, this album has a few black sheep, most notably "Marionette", which feels very lackadaisical and lazy. "Home", though a great example of May's impressing vocals, feels more forced than genuine. Lyrically, the track is very familiar, and the bass isn't audible. "Thread", is a standout track, as May's vocals reach their pinnacle on this record. The hooks lead into the free-flowing choruses and vice versa. All throughout this record, May does her best to channel Lacey, but manages to not create any serious replications of her. May has a voice all her own and helps create a harmonic and comfortable tone blend with an otherwise harder effort.
Overall, this album is an improvement from the group's previous work. Especially considering the skeptics who quickly wrote off May as incapable of replacing Lacey, she fits the role quite well, and the group as a whole benefits. Engendering a almost always genuine vibe, May has helped this group create what is arguably their best outing this far. Time will tell if she can actually "replace" Lacey, though one thing's for certain. Only good things can befall this group in the future and slowly but surely, fans may soon embrace May as a mainstay in Flyleaf.
Recommended tracks - "Thread", "Set Me on Fire", "Home"
