Despite attempting to reach too many targets with an invariable sound, Story of the Year impress in being able to deliver a number of aggressively catchy melodies on their debut LP 'Page Avenue'. Clearly a front-loaded album - with its best quartet of tracks arguably being the first four - the St.Louis quintet alternate from post-hardcore to hard-rock, and from pop-rock to metalcore in searching for their true sound. The memorable highlights on offer here suggest a band with genuine crossover potential, but a little more streamlining & imagination will be required first. Recommended Tracks: Until The Day I Die, Anthem of Our Dying Day, And The Hero Will Drown & In The Shadows.
Story of the Year are the musical equivalent of a brick wall. Lumbering, dull and often unnecessary, they will never serve any greater purpose - no matter how many kids graffiti upon it. Page Avenue epitomizes exactly why this band are awful - amateurish songwriting, uninspired riffing, whining vocals and the most cliched lyrics you'll find this side of a burning city for your heart.
Not recommended for persons over fifteen years.
Nothing groundbreaking here that for sure: but this album rocks fast, with an infectious pop punk sound and a strive for solid melodies/harmonies. Though the main problem here is that they sound way too clean with the record: those guitars need to be turned louder. Though props to Dan Marsala for solid vocals and Josh Willis for some neat tricks on his drum fills. Eventually SOTY would progress into more of their ideal sound in the upcoming records. And despite the lack of originality and lack of "heaviness" this remains to be a fun listen on occasion.
Back in the day when I discovered this during my extended Pop-Punk phase, it was fun to listen to. But it got old quite fast, as the material is more or less catchy but not something you have not listened to dozens of times before with other bands.
