Review Summary: Strung Out takes cliche and overused sound, proceeds to make better. End result; best album of their career.
When describing a band’s overall sound there a benefits and disadvantages of comparing them to similar bands. A disadvantage of this approach is that often people will disagree with you and what you think sounds similar may indeed sound completely un-alike in the ears of another. That being said I feel it’s justified to say that on Exile In Oblivion, Strung Out sound a lot like a combination of Black Sails/Art Of Drowning AFI and Identity Crisis/Illusion of Safety Thrice.
That being said they’re still a band unto themselves and this album is an excellent example of the flawless music Strung Out has been known to create. Originating as a combination pop-punk meets hardcore band, Strung Out adopted a metal tinge to their sound around 2000 and since then have focused on integrating it into their overall sound. Exile In Oblivion is the peak of Strung Out’s career, the album brings out the intensity of a melodic hardcore band, the technicality of a metal band and the catchiness of the best pop-punk bands.
Whilst this particular combination of styles may be one of the most overdone things in post-hardcore today, Strung Out stand above the crowd of inferior imitators by providing a more sincere and enjoyable experience. The riffs are heavy as well as technical wrapping themselves around the other instruments in a fashion that allows them to draw attention without dominating the performance. When time comes for a breakdown the band avoids cliché and generic single-note chugging instead keeping the use of breakdowns to a minimum and allowing for variation within said breakdowns.
The bass, whilst occasionally drowned out in the heavier moments, is still incredibly enjoyable; providing the more ambient sections with a solid heart beat that should not only keep the listener’s attention, but offer a rather interesting aspect of the band’s sound for appraisal. On top of this the drumming is incredibly tight, fills are constantly well-placed and much like the guitar work, the drumming just gives off a kind of energy that adds a certain level of emotion to the band’s instrumental performance not often found within band’s of a similar nature.
Speaking of emotion vocalist Jason Cruz has plenty of it. Whether it be his harsh vocals or his cleans (which occasionally come off as a punk Chris De Burgh) the overall feeling presented in his voice is amazing. Going back to my earlier comparisons to AFI and Thrice, Cruz really is the best example of this; he’s the Dustin Havok or Davey Kensrue of the group. Combining an emotive performance, with incredibly solid vocals and a lyrical strength not often found within the genre. Cruz is arguably the strongest and most interesting member of the group and considering how good of a group they are that’s saying a fair bit.
When it comes down to it, Exile In Oblivion is a truly amazing album. The music is original, well written, energetic and just plain fun. It’s a rare event in which a band takes a sound that has become cliché and overused and manages to not only breathe life into it but create something that defines the genre as a whole.
