Review Summary: Some slight changes to try to recreate the infamous Asking Alexandria sound.
Asking Alexandria is quite the name in the industry that metalcore has slowly been turning into. A staple to most and an annoyance to others, this band has had a equal divide between love and hate, with more of the love changing to discontent or lack luster listening, that most people have found to be a let down. Released with the the description "a musical baby of older style Slipknot and Motley Crue", Asking Alexandria had quite a big promise to fulfill, but where they able to keep what they promised?
The album opens up with "Don't Pray For Me" which is Danny voicing his inner most thoughts during his friends endeavors to try to make him enter a life of sobriety. Backtracking a show in which Danny was too drunk to play, followed by a slower riff with much more refined growling, Asking kicks the album off with much more energy then prior introductory tracks. The song quickly shifts into a classic chorus, in which Danny's new cleans have become much more weaker then they have been before. One thing in this track this is noticeable, is the synergy and structure is much cleaner then before. An example of this is the breakdown, which isn't very note-worthy on it's own, however the band has come together to make an over generic breakdown work for them. While starting strong, the band quickly loses momentum with the following track "Killing You". This song is something you've heard many times before, an emotionless song about someone hurting somebody they love and feeling sorry for what they have done.
The next track, the lead single "The Death of Me" is out of all the released songs, the only one to reach what Asking Alexandria has promised to do. The vocals are much more powerful then they have ever been, the guitar is much more riff oriented and the drums keep a good back rhythm, the bass will nearly in audible delivers the same energy as the rest. The message of the song is stronger, summarizing Danny's thoughts during his attempt to fix the mistakes he's made. The breakdown is a great build up to the chorus around the half way point, and the end of the song finishes the track soundly and without much of a weakness, this is easily the strongest song on this album.
The rest of this album follows the same structure, with varying messages such as reaching new heights(ex: "Believe" and "Run Free"), burning the world to ash("Break Down the Walls" and "Poison") or just trying to make a more rock oriented theme ("Creature, White Line Fever"). One theme that stands out strong is "Moving On" which is a homage to Asking Alexandria's biggest influence, the 80s. The theme of the song is Danny as a child wanting to change the world and make people feel less pained and torn. The instruments deliver emotion, and Danny's raspier vocals fill the spaces with a new energy not seen much by this band.
As a whole, this band has a long way to go before they reach the momentum they want to bring to their music, however at the same time, they have reached new heights and refined ones that previously had been weakened. If you don't like Asking Alexandria now, this album won't change your mind much, however if you are a fan, you won't be disappointed.
