Post by Josh McLaughlin on Dec 9, 2011 5:30:22 GMT -5
Tonight Alive have achieved a lot despite only being in the music scene for just over two years. In that short time they've gone from playing small Sydney shows supporting local hardcore bands to selling out headline shows around the country, and supporting bands such as Simple Plan, 3OH!3, New Found Glory, Blessthefall and Sum 41 as well as being on the 2012 Soundwave bill! It's been a quick rise for the band, and they had little time to reflect on their success before the recording of their debut album "What Are You So Scared Of?", recorded in early 2011 in Los Angeles and produced by Mark Trombino who has previously worked with Blink 182 and Jimmy Eat World. The album dropped in October 2011, and has made a huge dent in the national rock music scene, moving the band from supporting international bands at respected venues to headlining and selling them out by themselves!
The album opens with track "Eject, Eject, Eject!", an orchestral instrumental that builds up nicely as a lead in to the ass-kicking rock of "Breaking and Entering". The sound is smooth, the instruments are great and once the rock kicks in, it kicks in hard! The chorus is undeniably infection and catchy, and the song proves to be one of those songs you can't help but get amped up after listening to! It's a fantastic opener, as it shows that the band has undoubtedly matured since their last EPs, and it shows they know how to bring the rock!
"Starlight" kicks in next with guitar driven riffs leading into a soft and melodic verse, which is underlined by punky bass fills as the song leads into the chorus which seems to be made specifically for crowds to be screaming along! The bridge chugs along before the rock kicks in highlighting that Jenna McDougall isn't just another pop singer, she can rock out as hard as anyone! Whakaio leads the band with his groovy, catchy guitar work that packs a punch when combined with the rest of the band! Tonight Alive know how to write catchy songs. "Sure As Hell" is no exception, with guitar-driven verses leading into an extremely catchy chorus, that is sure to be stuck in your head for hours after listening to it.
"Let it Land", the band's most recent single, is next. It is much slower and more melodic than previous songs on the album, and really highlights that the band has very much matured without losing the "fun" in their music. Having had the opportunity to hear this song live, it really is something special to hear everyone sing along to the chorus of the song with as much passion and meaning as Jenna put into the actual recording. "Listening" picks the pace back up with massive guitar fills made to headbang to. "Reason to Sing" is another example of the perfect Tonight Alive concoction of the brattish pop-punk sound with the meaningfullness and retrospect of blues, and the sheer forward drive of good ol' hard rock music. "Safe and Sound" is a very melodic, orchestrally-driven song that highlights Jenna's vocal abilities as well as Matt Best's stellar efforts on the drumkit.
"Thank You and Goodnight" is next, and it is a huge step up for the band. The song appeared on their first EP "All Shapes & Disguises", and was re-recorded for this release. The sound is crisper, the band is tighter and they've brought along a guest! Blink 182 vocalist Mark Hoppus lends a hand to make the song extra special. The riffs are simple, yet catchy and the vocals are fantastic. Up next? The true standout of the album, "Amelia", the song written about Jenna's friend who unfortunately passed away after a skiing accident at the age of 17. The song oozes emotion, and the lyrics are absolutely amazing. You don't just hear each word, you truely and honestly feel it. The song rocks, and the retrospective saddening undertones help the song to move from being just another hard rock song to one that is something undeniably special.
"In The First Place" is very much a punk-pop song, but it has a unique charm that I feel helps Tonight Alive rise above their many peers. "To Die For" is another song re-recorded for this album, and it is a rock-heavy song, and one of my favourites from their catalogue. The chorus demands to be sung along with at the top of your lungs! The album closes with title track "What Are You So Scared Of?" a retrospective look on the band's rollercoaster career thus far, and how much they have grown and taken on in such a short time. The song is another standout, and the chorus is one of my favourites of the whole album. It's a fitting last song for the release, as it so well leaves the door open for whatever the band brings next!
As a whole, the album is nothing revolutionary at all. There is nothing here that reinvents the wheel. Having said that, the album has an extraordinary charm that just makes you either amped up and ready to rock or completely happy and satisfied when listening to it. The vocals are catchy, the riffs hooky, the percussion sections rocking. There are quite a few songs on this list that deserve a special mention for going above and beyond all they have done before; "Breaking and Entering", "Let it Land", "Amelia" and"To Die For". The album is extremely solid as a whole, and one of my favourite releases of the year, if not for originality, for the fun and whole-heartedness it has.
8/10