Review Summary: Someone come up with a name for this.
So first things first, this band is what you would get if you made a supergroup from Bring Me The Horizon, Attack Attack!, Enter Shikari, and Miss May I. Taking vocals, guitar work, and drumming from BMTH, and Miss May I, and the techno/trance from AA! And Enter Shikari. Everyone and their moms want to compare this band to Attack Attack!, and it’s possible to do so, but not very reasonable. Tthis album could have been Attack Attack!’s next album. But Asking Alexandria got to it first. Now, I like Attack Attack! more, even though musically they may not be better. My only thing is that Asking Alexandria tries too hard.
The first thing you notice when you start the album is the keys and trance(core) effects in Alerion. But then this massive breakdown comes in and destroys whatever thought you are having. Many people are against an album with a notable amount of breakdowns (August Burns Red), and I’m the complete opposite. Breakdowns make or break an album for me. If you’re the type of person that hates a myriad of breakdowns, don’t even pick the album up. Anyway, Alerion really kicks you in the mouth when you hear the vocalist scream, “Cross my heart and hope you die. Left by the roadside. Karma’s a bitch right?”
From there you can already tell they aren’t on the top of the lyrics list. But, it gets the job done.
As for vocals, they are wonderful and not so good at the same time. For some parts, they get annoying because this band is from the UK, and the vocalist has an accent, but then again it’s interesting to hear, and refreshing. Moreover, he has an amazing range. Think of Bring Me The Horizon with better Enter Shikari singing. His death growls are the best I’ve heard in a while. Hearing him below, “Bitch. You stupid ***ing bitch.” during the last breakdown in Not The American Average just makes me want to punch something.
There is absolutely something about the singing that bothers me. It’s not good and it’s not bad. It’s just average, and the accent makes it weirder. If he used an autotune it would be better.
Again, that’s where Attack Attack! pull in as being better than them. Their singing, while autotuned, is way better, and much more catchier. Although I sometimes find myself singing parts of I Was Once Possibly Maybe A Cowboy King throughout the day. They could certainly do better.
I’ve actually had the privilege to see these guys live in their first US tour with Vanna and A Static Lullaby, and let me say, they destroyed. Not as good as Vanna, but nearly. Yes, you hear a ton of synth, but they have no keyboardist. The Danny, the vocalist does all the programming. Yes, I will keep referencing Attack Attack! because as AA! rely on the techno/trance/synth as part of their actual sound, I think Asking Alexandria just through them in the songs just to have something other than breakdowns ever 45 seconds. (Literally) It was fun jumping up and down to the ending of The Final Episode [Let’s change Channels]. And boy, do they know how to put on a good breakdown live. I would do anything to relive their walls of death. But everything seems thrown together, and really, this would be a good hype album, but nothing to seriously listen to. I would much rather listen to Someday Came Suddenly because I get a break from death growls and breakdowns for actual riffs and better synth.
All in all, if you like breakdowns, synths, and violent lyrics, this album is for you. I mean, I love it, but it will never top The Devil Wears Prada’s With Roots Above and Branches below as my top album as 2009.
I highly suggest seeing these guys live, try to catch them as they tour the US before they go back over-seas. Seriously, this new genre of post-hardcore bands with a ton of trancecore/deathcore influences needs a name. Synthdeath maybe? I think that’s cheesy, but of course someone will use it.
