Review Summary: Danny Worsnop, the epitome of hedonistic rebelliousness is back with his new troupe, We are Harlot. But, does he manage to steal the show or is he going to fizzle out?
First off, We Are Harlot would have been nowhere if it wasn't Danny Worsnop’s side-project turned full-time band of old school rock aficionados. Yes, the same eccentric, nonchalant Danny Worsnop, who, until a few months back was famously known as the front man of British metalcore/electronicore/whatevercore titans Asking Alexandria. They are recklessly notorious for their insobriety, and hilarious off stage antics coupled with their unbridled on stage pyrotechnics, and panache of charismatic prototypical rockers. So, it’s hard to fathom for many, why he left Asking Alexandria, a band that has ruthlessly dominated and pioneered an over-saturated scene replete with hordes of run-of-the-mill cookie-cutter bands inhabiting the scene ecosystem to the brim. Not to mention it’s still capable of stirring up the comments section of their YouTube videos with supreme ease.
Coming back to the man in the spotlight here, Mr. Danny Worsnop made up his mind to leave his former band, primarily since his now strained & raspy voice that endured multiple changes over the years rendered his vocals no longer in sync with the brand of aggressive metalcore that defines AA. Quite evidently, he could not sustain in the hedonistic party lifestyle (a choice he still loves to dabble in) and, a grueling touring schedule with a formidable work ethic followed by his erstwhile band.So, where does the rock 'n ' roll tinged debut effort of Worsnop and coterie (read: We are harlot) land them in? Does it manage to Stand up and Scream on its own, and grab attention of a new breed of listeners? We find out.
We Are Harlot, in its essence is a predominantly steady album that sounds like an 80s record infused with the motto-sex, drugs and you know it all (rock n roll). It’s exactly what these dudes were aiming for too, at least sonically. Most of the songs on the album could have been successful B-sides on albums of Motley Crue&Aerosmith or, if they ever conceived a musical baby, it would be called ‘We are harlot’. Tracks like ‘’One more Night’’ bring back the uptempo unabashed straight up hooks of the yore. Apart from that, a few piano laden balladesque tracks like ‘’I tried’’ & ‘’Someday’’ are incorporated into the album which segues seamlessly from one track to another, albeit not profound enough to make a stamp on your memory.
Lyrically, it’s terribly disappointing as Danny can’t get enough of his lady love/cruel mistress, to whom almost all the tracks are dedicated. Even going by Asking Alexandria’s standards (oh my god!) and Danny’s dubious repertoire(if only he could see the world), the lyrics are cringe-worthy. Cheesy lyrics like 'women and cocaine and bottles for days' on “One More Night” only add-up to the persona of the drug addled crooner that Worsnop’s been recognized as. Musicianship is a highlight of the album, with an abundance of fast-paced guitar shred solos (there are no sweep picked arpeggios) on almost every song. Guitarist Jeff George does have his moments of sheer glory dazzling on many tracks, managing to hold his own against Worsnop’s usually fiery vocal delivery.
However, the album suffers from myriad shortcomings, innovation being the biggest malefactor. Seldom does the band try to tread a different path as the regurgitated overused formulae and clichés of old school rock are prevalent & all over the place on the album. According to the band, it took around four years for them to complete the album, but the hard work and viscidity is just not visible enough. Most of the second half of the record sounds monotonous& painfully bland with a few good tracks thrown in for a good measure here and there in between. The only, redeeming track that stands out is '‘Flying Too Close to the sun’'– the haunting bass line at its beginning is an indicator of the potential that beckons this band.
Which brings us to the moot question, Did Danny Worsnop do himself a world of good, by abandoning his ex-band to pursue a different musical path? As far as his voice is concerned yeah, he has managed to salvage some pride, and the hype around the album is only increasing. Some previously released singles like ‘’Denial’’ and ‘’Dancing on Nails’’ are solid tracks that boast of everything the band stands for. The use of unclean vocals, a highlight of Worsnop’s career with Asking Alexandria has been limited to a few tracks like ‘’Denial’’,’’ One more night’’ amongst others, doing more good than harm. Overall, the album harnesses the strong points of Worsnop’s strenuous vocal melodies rendering some remarkable tracks truly capable of being labeled summer jams whilst the rest fall short in terms of vision& execution. Alas, only time will tell if the band will revive good ol’ rock ‘n ' roll and make it huge in the years to come.
Noteworthy tracks worth listening to-:
One more Night
Denial
Flying Too close to the Sun
Never turn back
