Review Summary: Fallenmania, Part 29
I’ve briefly mentioned how, for most of the 2010s, you didn’t see a lot of obvious fallenmaniacs, but rather, a lot of mainstream rock bands that only had a vague connection to Fallenmania. Icon For Hire’s debut “Scripted” may be the best example of that sound, not just because it borrows from nearly every successful rock artist of the early 2010s, but also because it’s surprisingly enjoyable. At least, the good parts are enjoyable, but I can’t say that about every track.
The first tracks, “Overture” and “Theater” are among such highlights, and good examples of the band’s obvious blend of influences. After an Evanescence-and-Linkin-Park-ish intro with strings and electronics, the album actually starts with a catchy rock song about how “My life is a musical” and “I wanna live like I lost the script”. The song has a sort of pop punk vibe with its catchy chorus and infectious energy, but it’s slightly heavier, which fits Ariel Bloomer’s powerful voice, but it ends on a darker-sounding riff that was clearly borrowed from Three Days Grace. It’s a good indicator of the album’s sound, with its mix of clear inspiration from other artists without being completely like any of them, and lyrics that try to say something about the meaning of life. Oh, and catchy choruses and powerful vocals. That helps.
“Up in Flames” is another good example of that with its super-fast, super-catchy rhythm and lyrics about never giving up. It sounds like something Skillet and Three Days Grace might have released on a lazy day, but with much more energy and conviction. “Only a Memory” has a hint of melancholy and Going Under riffs I kind of enjoy. However, the best example of that Icon for Hire formula would be the big single and the band’s signature song “Make a Move”. That “Somebody make a move” hook can stay stuck in your head for days. The rock and electro instrumentation alternates between pop punk and Going Under riffs. Ariel is singing like a lot of pop punk and mainstream rock singers, but with much more energy. That’s not really my type of music, but it works pretty well. I’m also not a fan of those lyrics that think they’re deeper than they really are, vaguely positive stuff about how you need to actually do something if you want the world to change, but I guess you could feel inspired by them.
I have the same problem with “Get Well”, a heavier and somewhat more dramatic track about Ariel wanting to get better and criticizing people who want to wallow in their misery. This must be inspired by someone she knew. This, and “Make a Move” show a certain preachiness in the album’s lyrics, which I don’t like any more than the fake-deep lyrics. A shame, because I like the song’s instrumental and vocals. I also enjoyed the last bonus track “Call me Alive”, the heaviest number here, beginning with a growl and a loud riff, followed by Ariel’s strongest vocals and guitars that remind me of Going Under and In This Moment riffs. On this song, the lyrics actually work for me. I guess I react much better to “I’ve survived everything” types of songs.
Then there’s “Off with Her Head” for weirder lyrics. I love the song’s explosive Going Under riffs, Alice in Wonderland references and rapid-fire “My enemies belittle me reminding me the penalty of all my deeds despite my pleas is death”. I’m not sure what it’s about, but I think it’s making some commentary of the pressures of fame, which is at least more interesting. Mostly, I like its dark and quirky tone. The « don’t let go, don’t let go » hook is also pretty catchy.
On other tracks, the lyrics don’t bother me as much, they’re generic but not too preachy. Unfortunately, the music is even more generic, and not as catchy or interesting as what came before. “The Grey” is the big fallenmaniac ballad from the album, and it’s so dull I can’t find any melody on it. “Fight” has a cool electro-rock instrumentation and “I’m gonna fight! Fight!” hook, but it fails to really soar like “Make a Move” or “Get Well”. “Iodine” is an average rock song, only saved by its catchiness. Its only lyric that really stands out is “Depression is like a fur coat, it’s made of dead things, but it keeps me warm”. Someone thought that was deep, or poetic. The other bonus track “Fall Apart” is also heavier and kind of fallenmaniac and In this Moment-influenced, but not as good as “Call me Alive”, and really out of place on the album. It actually has a pulse.
This is why I can’t really call this a great album, but I do enjoy many things about it. That’s my overall opinion on Icon For Hire, who have kept a decent career going thanks to their slightly fallenmaniac, very electro pop rock sound. It’s not my favorite of the various styles that have appeared in this series, which is why I probably won’t review too many of them. But if you should only listen to one album with a vague hint of Fallenmania and a huge influence from many other 2010s rock bands, “Scripted” is a pretty good choice. And now, I have to choose who is going to be next in the series. I can’t review every single Evanescence-influenced artist, because they’re too hard to find, not listed on Sputnik and other sites I use, and because I wouldn’t have enough time. Not if I want to review other stuff, and I’d really like to take you to other places far away from Fallenmania in my next reviews.
