Hey guys, this is my track by track review for the new I See Stars album "Digital Renegade". It comes out today, March 13,2012. Go check it out and decide for yourself what you think, because this of course is my OPINION and nothing else. Keep in mind I'm not a huge fan of hardcore or scream music, although ISS are one of my favorite hard groups.
GNARS ATTACKS: Opens with a chant,followed by screamed vocals (which a re very prominent on this album. Goes into a weird techno breakdown as the vocals "keep friends close enemies closer" is repeated. The pacing at the end along with the music near the end seems like its building up to an epic breakdown,but ultimately just ends the song by slowly fading out.
NZT48: Starts by fading in,and then immediately jumps into the screams,jumpstarted by the line "we are surrounded by harlots" By the 45 second mark the song starts building up and successfully crashes into the chorus. Cliche line is used "Some men just want to watch the world burn" just before a guitar breakdown,thats nothing out of the ordinary. Overall,the song's strongest points are its intro and chorus.
DIGITAL RENEGADE: By this point in the album,I'm looking for something to separate this song from the 2 tracks I've already heard,and it doesn't do much to give itself its own identity. Expected more from the title track I guess. The guitar work is already starting to bore me at this point,as its getting repetitive and the breakdowns aren't anything special at all.
ENDLESS SKY: Opens up with harsh screams,but quickly switches to clean vocals. I'm seeing by this point in the album that the focus of the album is war, rising up, and taking over something. What? I'm not quite sure. But their doing this "takeover" in a mediocre way. It features Danny from Asking Alexandria, but was it really a necessary guest spot on the album? No. They already have a screamer. It feels like it was done to generate more interest in the album, since AA have been more successful than ISS so far.
UNDERNEATH EVERY SMILE: Starts off like something off of 3D. Has a bit different pacing to it, which is a welcome change. Interesting guitar work in the middle of the song before the phrase "its coming back around" starts being chanted. The song ends with that same phrase being repeated.
MYSTERY WALL: Hard guitar riff driven, and the song is driven by the screamed vocals, with the chorus being one of the better ones on the album up to this point. Heads into a sort of synth breakdown at the 2:20 mark, which is actually pretty cool.
I-BELIEVE: Slow buildup,quiet vocals,which start to pick up a little bit. I like the distorted vocals then get mixed and mashed on this song. Gives off a cool sound. Rather short song, no screamed vocals on this song. Its different,but its also not that appealing or exciting.
SUMMER DIED IN CONNERSVILLE: At this point in the album, I'm getting tired. Tired of listening that is. The song changes pace at the 1:40 and starts to get really interesting. The distorted and mixed and mashed vocals appear again and sound awesome. For some reason, that seems to make their songs so much better.
ELECTRIC FOREST: This song generates a lot of excitement for me, I'm a big fan of featured artist Cassadee Pope (I've met her,she's awesome). I like the totally different sound this song gives off. I like how the vocals are handed off to Cass so gently, which makes it almost an unnoticeable change until she really starts showing off her vocals. The harmonies fit perfectly, and overall its one of the most solid songs on the record. The song is about leaning to let mistakes go, and its a good message and something everyone should learn to do.
FILTH FRIENDS UNITE: I've been jamming to this track since it was released in January. The intro is one of the best things I've heard in a long time. The whole song is just epic. Thats why my hopes for the entire album were so high. The track soars so far above the rest of the album,its really not even fair. The use of keyboards and synths and distorted guitars mix with the attacking screamed vocals so well. The whole track flows so well and changes pace several times, very smoothly though. The chorus is as strong as the rest of the song. The song builds up again and breaks down again, as the drums pound in the background. This song has some of the best lyrics on the album in my opinion. I am a bit confused as to why this track, which is such a "get pumped up and crazy" song, is the closing track for the album. I would haver opened with it, or at least put it second after an intro or something. Best song on the album hands down.
Anyways, overall, the album lacks originality, although it is a huge improvement over the bands last album that strayed way too far from their roots. The album is reminiscent of 3D, too much in my opinion, which is what keeps it from succeeding and being something great.
RATING: 3.25 / 5
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GNARS ATTACKS: Opens with a chant,followed by screamed vocals (which a re very prominent on this album. Goes into a weird techno breakdown as the vocals "keep friends close enemies closer" is repeated. The pacing at the end along with the music near the end seems like its building up to an epic breakdown,but ultimately just ends the song by slowly fading out.
NZT48: Starts by fading in,and then immediately jumps into the screams,jumpstarted by the line "we are surrounded by harlots" By the 45 second mark the song starts building up and successfully crashes into the chorus. Cliche line is used "Some men just want to watch the world burn" just before a guitar breakdown,thats nothing out of the ordinary. Overall,the song's strongest points are its intro and chorus.
DIGITAL RENEGADE: By this point in the album,I'm looking for something to separate this song from the 2 tracks I've already heard,and it doesn't do much to give itself its own identity. Expected more from the title track I guess. The guitar work is already starting to bore me at this point,as its getting repetitive and the breakdowns aren't anything special at all.
ENDLESS SKY: Opens up with harsh screams,but quickly switches to clean vocals. I'm seeing by this point in the album that the focus of the album is war, rising up, and taking over something. What? I'm not quite sure. But their doing this "takeover" in a mediocre way. It features Danny from Asking Alexandria, but was it really a necessary guest spot on the album? No. They already have a screamer. It feels like it was done to generate more interest in the album, since AA have been more successful than ISS so far.
UNDERNEATH EVERY SMILE: Starts off like something off of 3D. Has a bit different pacing to it, which is a welcome change. Interesting guitar work in the middle of the song before the phrase "its coming back around" starts being chanted. The song ends with that same phrase being repeated.
MYSTERY WALL: Hard guitar riff driven, and the song is driven by the screamed vocals, with the chorus being one of the better ones on the album up to this point. Heads into a sort of synth breakdown at the 2:20 mark, which is actually pretty cool.
I-BELIEVE: Slow buildup,quiet vocals,which start to pick up a little bit. I like the distorted vocals then get mixed and mashed on this song. Gives off a cool sound. Rather short song, no screamed vocals on this song. Its different,but its also not that appealing or exciting.
SUMMER DIED IN CONNERSVILLE: At this point in the album, I'm getting tired. Tired of listening that is. The song changes pace at the 1:40 and starts to get really interesting. The distorted and mixed and mashed vocals appear again and sound awesome. For some reason, that seems to make their songs so much better.
ELECTRIC FOREST: This song generates a lot of excitement for me, I'm a big fan of featured artist Cassadee Pope (I've met her,she's awesome). I like the totally different sound this song gives off. I like how the vocals are handed off to Cass so gently, which makes it almost an unnoticeable change until she really starts showing off her vocals. The harmonies fit perfectly, and overall its one of the most solid songs on the record. The song is about leaning to let mistakes go, and its a good message and something everyone should learn to do.
FILTH FRIENDS UNITE: I've been jamming to this track since it was released in January. The intro is one of the best things I've heard in a long time. The whole song is just epic. Thats why my hopes for the entire album were so high. The track soars so far above the rest of the album,its really not even fair. The use of keyboards and synths and distorted guitars mix with the attacking screamed vocals so well. The whole track flows so well and changes pace several times, very smoothly though. The chorus is as strong as the rest of the song. The song builds up again and breaks down again, as the drums pound in the background. This song has some of the best lyrics on the album in my opinion. I am a bit confused as to why this track, which is such a "get pumped up and crazy" song, is the closing track for the album. I would haver opened with it, or at least put it second after an intro or something. Best song on the album hands down.
Anyways, overall, the album lacks originality, although it is a huge improvement over the bands last album that strayed way too far from their roots. The album is reminiscent of 3D, too much in my opinion, which is what keeps it from succeeding and being something great.
RATING: 3.25 / 5
follow me @AlbumReviewTv and on youtube.com/albumreviewtv for more.
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