Review Summary: "I don't know what I'm doing, but I know how to do it"
Breathe Carolina has always been a group that fulfilled a particular niche within the music scene. When they started out with their first two albums they were considered by many to be a "synthcore" band. Being most known for utilizing light and airy synthesizers. With their last and highest regarded album,
Hell Is What You Make It, they dropped the "synthcore" influence in favor of strong electronics. The group still utilized unclean vocals on some of the strongest tracks. However the lone chart hit from the
Hell, "Blackout", did not.
Since the release of their third album unclean vocalist Kyle Even has left the group. So now the task of delivering the next album to the masses lies on clean vocalists David Schmitt's shoulders. On fourth LP
Savages he has the chance the prove that he can continue the success of their prior album by delving more into the Electronic Dance Music craze.
He does not.
And that is unfortunate because their is some good dance music and some strong potential wrapped in these eleven tracks. "Bang It Out", and titular track "Savages" would fit right on any party playlist. But there is something about hearing the grating of the same buildups, and drops multiple times. Opening track "Bury Me" is a prime example of this. After the minute buildup you think you are about to hear "Eye of the Tiger" or something. This big buildup comes to a very lackluster pop song layered in synthesizer that would make your 10 year old sister cringe. "Collide", "Shadows", and "Mistakes" all suffer from deriving from the same formula that makes electronic music so dreadful sometimes. It is like the group is trying to recreate their lone hit, which never really works.
Through all the bad moments there is some good to come out of
Savages that showcase what the album should have been following their prior effort. "Sellouts", which features Danny Worsnop of Asking Alexandria, is the pure standout track because it goes back the dual vocal tandem that the group utilized prior. "I Don't Know What I'm Doing" is a keen electronic song that actually surprises you. The buildup leads into a drop fueled by tone bells. It is probably the lowest the bass gets on this LP, but it does not sound gimmicky. It actually makes the song interesting. Unfortunately it does not make the album interesting.
Savages ultimately ends up as a failure because of the lack of originality shown by the group. The departure of Kyle Even proves to be a big deal because it removes one of the few elements that made this group so interesting. And trying to recreate the same hit multiple times does not result in a quality work. Other then some gems,
Savages ultimately becomes another tombstone in the graveyard of one hit wonders. Hope it is nice next to Rick Astley's
Hold Me In Your Arms.
