| 0.0 | GreyShadow | November 24th 14 |
The lyrics will resonate with some and oppress others. I feel it's unfair to condemn if you don't agree with the message because that's what the album is supposed to be. More variety would have been welcome but hey, definitely a fun listen.
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| 0.0 | silenteye | November 18th 14 |
Loud and fast, AFI members Davey Havok (vocals) and Jade Puget decided to go for a jugular in crafting a straight-edge themed hardcore album. The music is aggressive and in your face (Davey screams mostly the entire time which is a welcoming after putting out mostly radio-friendly alternative songs with AFI). The lyrics are 100% straight edge related and are aggressive, accusatory, and preachy. If you're not straight edge and can get over that bit, it's an enjoyable listen.
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| 0.0 | MattGandee | November 19th 14 |
While it is very nice to hear Davey and Jade return to the more hardcore sound of early AFI, the militant straight edge lyrics detracted from this to the point where the music itself became off-putting. There is really nothing appealing about hearing Davey berate anyone who doesn't share his world view, much less for an entire album. The lyrics aren't just pompous and arrogant, either, they're also badly written (this is easily Davey's worst lyrical outing to date - and yes, I've heard Decemberunderground)... I wanted to like this, I really did, but unfortunately, I found this aspect of the band so obnoxious that it just ruined the entire thing for me... We get it, Davey, you're straight edge. It doesn't take 14 fucking songs to get that point across.
An in response to the comment above: "I feel it's unfair to condemn if you don't agree" - I have reworded my comment to explain how it is more than mere disagreement - it diminished the value of the music as a whole to the point where there was no longer any enjoyment to be had from this release. I'm more than happy to give music an honest chance even if I don't necessarily agree with the message (for example, I'm an atheist, yet still thoroughly enjoy Norma Jean and The Chariot); there is much more to the issue here than a simple difference of opinion. And for the record, I don't have a problem with anyone who chooses to be straight edge. What I *do* have a problem with is people who choose to be assholes. In this case, that would be XTRMST, seeing as "condemning if you don't agree" is practically the band's entire M.O.
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