Review Summary: For "In the Blink of an Eye" see side B...
FACT busted through the scene last year with quite a remarkable self-titled album, which gave them quite a few fans in high places such as fellow bands iwrestledabearonce, A Parkway Drive, and Memphis Mayfire. It was praised by fans and critics alike for it's diverse sound. However this was not the band's first ever release, back in the band's "rise to fame" days they released a number of albums which were less diverse and more along the lines of post-hardcore then anything. Why mention this? Because in several ways 'In the Blink of an Eye' is a return to form, but it is not the wisest decision.
Does this make 'In the Blink of an Eye' a bad album? NO! This is still a great, fun, and energetic listen as the last. This band tries to simplify things a little bit, with less experimentation and less in-song genre switches. In fact this band tries to return to their punk laden roots as aforementioned, most of the songs have really strong punk overtones. A disappointing factor, but that doesn't mean this album isn't worth a listen, hell if you loved the self-titled you'll love this on a similar level to be sure.
The album opener and title track is easily and best described as a punk song, there isn't much diversity on this track, however it's still an a bounce off the walls song to have fun to. "This is the End" in my opinion should've been the album opener cause it seriously just grabs you when you take a listen to that opening riff and you finally get to hear some of the heaviness and aggression that was very well liked by this group, and then the lead singer begins to display more of his punk influences by trying a somewhat hardcore punk yell, before he slows it down (slightly) for a more metallic riff. "Slip of the Lip" is a tough contender for the band's catchiest song and is one of the album's best songs, much in the vein of "A Fact of Life" it blends punk, alternative, metal, and breakbeat altogether into a fine blend. "Silent Night" opens up with some fine and dandy metallic riffing which bursts into a punk style, until a the band unleashes with an almost deathcore moment I was actually surprised, before going back to the punk style with some alternative overtones. Indeed one of my personal favorite songs off the album. "Dec 2" opens up with a metallic hardcore riff before laying into an alternative style. Damn this catchy riff! It's pure genius! "Part of it all" is a hardcore punk song with gang vocals heavily infused. "1-3" is a nintendocore song much in the vein of "1-2" except without the remix part, it's actually a different listen. "Behind a Smile" is the band picking up on recent trends *cough cough* autotune, and is easily one of the most breakbeat songs the band has ever produced, and still has that punk flowing energy behind it. While "Fade" is one of the most alternative songs the band has ever produced with some light breakbeat influences in there. "Risk of Disorder" wouldn't be too hard to picture on a Underoath album, and shows a heavy pop rock style, it's a certainly powerful song to be sure. "Goodbye to Good Morning" shows all the above mentioned influences and shows it's energy, and emotion into a powerful listen. The album closer "Sunset" is a punk rock much like the title track, and with energy, emotion heavily infused together, it makes for a great song.
All in all other then a strange choice in simplification, there is little problem with this album. In fact the album flows together just as well as the first one did, Hiro's has been given more time to learn english and it shows, most of his words come of as clear, just as they intended it to be. However given all of this, the band is deciding to stop switching to genres in mid-song and sticks to more "here's our heavy song, and here's our punk song". Less standout moments and originality suffer. If you loved the debut, then you'll love this album too, and that's a FACT!
Recommended Songs-
Slip of the Lip
Silent Night
Risk of Disorder
Goodbye to Good Morning
