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Review Summary: After 2012's "Life Cycles" was a favorable effort from The Word Alive, they build upon it and show they're getting better every day. The Word Alive, a post-hardcore group from Phoenix, Arizona, are undoubtedly a talented act among their peers. The strong balance of clean and unclean vocals from the always reliable Tyler Smith allows guitarists Zack Hansen and Tony Pizzuti, drummer Luke Holland and bassist Daniel Shapiro to all follow suit. First time listeners may find them to be a lot like the other cookie cutter metalcore bands you see on Fearless Records, but just give them time. They'll grow on you. 2012's "Life Cycles" boasted a lot of what makes this group who they are, and "Real." is no different.
It's hard to not resist the catchy hooks of opening track "Play the Victim." The instrumentation is flawless on this track and it pays dividends when coupled with Smith's alluring screams. Tracks like "Lighthouse", a lyrical call to arms, are a little more simplistic, though simplicity works here too. Smith certainly has the pipes, and with a competent drumming execution from Holland, not to mention audible bass, the album stakes it claim from the opening handful of tracks. "Never Forget" puts Smith's in your face uncleans on display and it's a sight to behold.
"The Fortune Teller" gives the listener a vibe that manifests serious similarity to Woe, Is Me (a defunct metalcore suit from Rise Records.) Hansen doesn't pull any bells or whistles with his riffing. He just lets his guitar work keep the song going without trying too hard to be flashy and impressive. The group as a whole doesn't try to over-impress with their qualities. They just come in and get the job done. Smith's vocals are solid on "The Fortune Teller", as well as tracks such as "Your Mirage." "Your Mirage", one of this album's standouts, is a little experimental. It doesn't sound like the album's other tracks, though it hardly goes too far astray.
The Word Alive's third full-length draws to a close with "Collapsing", which starts off with some easy flowing riffs from Hansen and Pizzuti. Then Smith closes out a superb album with another strong vocal job. Needless to say, I was very impressed with "Real." I am very anxious to see if The Word Alive can top this.
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you like so much shit music it actually gives me sympathy pains
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
you don't see me harping on your music tastes? if I told you all you listened to was shit, how would you feel?
| | | probably rip on you again
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
which is all you do anyway...nice to know I can always count on you to comment on these, since clearly you have nothing better to do with your life.
I'd very much prefer some constructive criticism on my writing, and not your opinion of the band.
| | | okely dokely then
The Word Alive, a post-hardcore group from Phoenix, Arizona, are undoubtedly a talented act among their peers. The strong balance of clean and unclean vocals from the always reliable Tyler Smith allows guitarists Zack Hansen and Tony Pizzuti, drummer Luke Holland and bassist Daniel Shapiro to all follow suit. First time listeners may find them to be a lot like the other cookie cutter metalcore bands you see on Fearless Records, but just give them time. They'll grow on you. 2012's "Life Cycles" boasted a lot of what makes this group who they are, and "Real." is no different.
i'd rather find this in the band description for these guys rather than in a review.
The instrumentation is flawless on this track and it pays dividends when coupled with Smith's alluring screams.
specifically what is flawless about the instrumentation?
a lyrical call to arms
you mind giving us an example?
the album stakes its claim from the opening handful of tracks.
"The Fortune Teller" gives the listener a vibe that manifests serious similarity to Woe, Is Me (a defunct metalcore suit from Rise Records.)
how does it sound like woe is me? also the rise records bit is irrelevant and should be deleted.
They just come in and get the job done.
very insightful, man.
Smith's vocals are solid on "The Fortune Teller", as well as tracks such as "Your Mirage." "Your Mirage", one of this album's standouts, is a little experimental. It doesn't sound like the album's other tracks, though it hardly goes too far astray.
your mirage should have its own sentence, and you need to put in waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more detail about why it's experimental and how it doesn't sound like the rest of the tracks.
Needless to say, I was very impressed with "Real." I am very anxious to see if The Word Alive can top this.
delete this and replace it with a much stronger conclusion paragraph.
| | | lmao
| | | Snake is like that annoying smart kid who seems like a dumb bully but still wrecks you with smart comments...
| | | Snake = douche, just ignore him and he'll stop. No attention = no win.
| | | "the album stakes its claim from the opening handful of tracks."
he got that part right
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
I can't believe snake actually gave someone constructive criticism
must be tired of saying "shit"
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
well that's only cause I literally asked for it...I get i'm not very good at this...yet. But, rather than making any of his own, he just comments on everyone's to make them feel inferior...but I'm over it. He's not worth my time.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
telle's vox sound so shot on this
| | | Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off
From what I remember, the middle section has some awful choruses with Telle sounding weak as hell ruining songs that could be interesting. Too bad they decided tat they don't want to even attempt anything technical anymore. Violent Noise was meh and for as much as I don't remember liking this, I wish they tried something like it again.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off
Terminals has the most disappointing chorus possible that follows such a strong verse omg. It's so hype and then it's just not.
Umm may bump to a 3? The Fortune Teller had some cool stuff going for it, but it wasn't great. Your Mirage and 94th Street were just not great.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Not sure how I really feel about this record. There's some cool instrumental stuff (the mix of technical metalcore and synth crabcore in To Struggle And Claw My Way is nasty)
BUT the hooks are garbage and lot of the instrumentals get buried in the mix. This also feels very run of the mill scenecore which is probably why I never thought much of this LP
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
This was the last album that Telle sounded really good imo, his voice is so shot now both clean and harsh
| | | Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off
alright, i give up, i like this
Telle still ruins a lot of this by either Telle sounding shot or writing weak ass choruses but fuck, the good really is so good
To Struggle and Claw My Way and Broken Circuit are 2 of their best
that Protest riff in Glass Castles is fire
The Runaway is probs their catchiest
fuck Lighthouse forever still
but I like more of this than i don't. bonus track is sick as fuck too (would be HUGE live).
still would love an instrumental version of this
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Both of the bonus tracks from this rule, this album just rules in general
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
this is sick. need those two bonuses in place of the two obvious bad ones tho
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
hmmm i swear i don't remember this album at all. think i skimmed it once and forgot about it. steak & onion ratings got me wanting to check again
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