Review Summary: New and refreshing but in need of a push in the right direction.
Line-up:
Gustav Wood - Vocals
John Taylor - Guitar
Fraser Taylor – Guitar
Simon Mitchell - Bass
Ben Jolliffe - Drums
Since their relatively unknown EP, Mirrors, Young Guns have managed to take everything that defined their previous sound and improve upon it in almost every aspect, but does this make All Our Kings Are Dead a great album?
My expectations of this album were mixed; with first appearances it seems like yet another mainstream band attempting to follow in the wake of other successes such as You Me and Six and Lostprophets. Without a doubt, Young Guns have traits reminiscent of those bands, however I feel they’ve managed to add their own element to an otherwise bland scene. The first thing that sets them apart is the vocals. Undeniably Gustav Wood carries the album with his soaring voice that gives it a huge sound. The first showcase of this talent is Meter & Verse’s chorus where he really opens up with the line “I’ll never know divinity”.
This neatly steers us onto the lyrical content of the album and it’s fantastic to say the least. With so many lyricists that can’t help but write about themes of heartbreak and bitterness it’s a breath a fresh air to hear other issues being confronted. In ‘Sons of Apathy’ Gustav speaks about the lack of a father figure, “My father conquered seas but he was no help to me”, these moving lyrics are a more tender take on the subject than most but delivered with such energy that it’s a testament to how he’s grown as a person. Not once do we hear a familiar clichéd themes and that alone deserves kudos.
The feel of the album is very cohesive as every song sits well next to the other as well as still offering their own unique characteristics to the album. Although there is the issue that some of the guitar riffs can sound very similar. They’ve definitely found a strong formula yet in some cases they seem a little too comfortable with it. A prime example would be the intros to ‘D.O.A’ and ‘Elements’. I think that both riffs are equally good, however they’re too comparable for comfort. Thankfully the structure of both is diverse enough to differentiate, as the riff in D.O.A isn’t repeated. Another example is ‘Sons of Apathy’ and ‘Crystal Clear’ as they start almost identically until eventually developing into their own individual melodies.
For me, the highlights of the album are ‘Crystal Clear’, ‘Meter & Verse’ and ‘After the War’. They showcase each significant moment of the album whether it be an infectious chorus, belting vocals or crushing riffs. John and Fraser offer a great level of guitar playing and whilst there were no jaw dropping moments, it’s impressive nonetheless. The bass is always audible which is always a good sign of decent production and the drums are consistently tidy and complement everything perfectly. They’ve created a classic sound that to me just screams potential.
What holds this album back from being excellent is simply the restraints they’ve imposed on themselves. They’re an above average band held back by average influences. They’re talented guys and for a debut album this is remarkable but for real improvement they need to push the boundaries of their talent and work on the sound they’ve done such an excellent job of defining. I really believe Young Guns have huge potential but their future success is a sink or swim situation. They could be swept along with the other pale successes such as You Me At Six and Lostprophets or they could continue with what they’ve strived so hard to create and push their sound even further. Either way, I’m looking forward to a follow up album to see where they decided to take it.
Track Listing
1. Sons of Apathy (4/5)
2. Crystal Clear (4.5/5)
3. Meter and Verse (4.5/5)
4. Weight of the World (2/5)
5. D.O.A (3/5)
6. Stitches (3/5)
7. Winter Kiss (3.5/5)
8. Elements (5/5)
9. After the War (5/5)
10. Endless Grey (3/5)
11. At the Gates (4/5)
12. Beneath the Waves (3.5/5)
