How Does it Feel?
4th March 2016. A day etched in my mind. Not because I have an elaborate holiday planned or a special birthday... Unless you say albums have birth dates? That's right it's the release of Tonight Alive's brand new album Limitless.
The band have slowly been drip feeding us teasers in the form of new singles. The first of which was the controversial Human Interaction. If it wasn't for Jenna's unique vocals I wouldn't have been able to guess that this was a Tonight Alive song at all. With a much slower rhythm, fewer vocals and less complex guitar riffs some hardcore fans already miss their punk rock roots. But instead I am in awe of how the band have really stripped back their sound revealing a fragile undertone. The lyrics in Human Interaction really hit home, with Jenna singing about a hard time but working through it by promising herself that she will improve and eventually 'be better'. Such an important message and what better way to show it through their very first single off the album.
Following this, the band released Drive (you thought Human Interaction was different have a listen to this one!) and To Be Free (unusual synthpop intro welcomed by some familiar guitar riffs). But their most latest release comes in the form of the badass banger which is How Does it Feel? If I'm honest the first time I heard this track I felt there wasn't anything in particular special about it, a generic more mainstream guitar and catchy lyrics. But the more I listen to the track the more I notice the gems cleverly hidden behind the scenes. A piano is introduced after the second chorus with a dreamy almost space/galaxy synth sound so subtle you have to strain to hear. There's also a sick guitar riff and an irregular drum beat behind Jenna's vocals before it storms back into the final chorus. The sudden intake of breath at 0.41 and the creepy girly giggle at 3.06 make the song feel even more raw and lifelike. I just love how bands can put in these little but insanely effective touches into a song to really change the feel of it.
Some may say that the drastic change of Tonight Alive's newest album may result in it heading down the same downward spiral as Paramore's latest self titled album or You Me At Six's Cavalier Youth. But I really think when artists display a new side to their sound it shows their diverse musical skill and expresses true bravery when facing criticism head on. Lets face it who really wants to listen to the same thing again and again. We all like a change occasionally and I think after two studio albums and an EP to date Tonight Alive were due for a refreshing change. I genuinely cannot contain my excitement for Limitless, if it's anything like their singles currently released we're really in for a treat! Bring on March!
Following this, the band released Drive (you thought Human Interaction was different have a listen to this one!) and To Be Free (unusual synthpop intro welcomed by some familiar guitar riffs). But their most latest release comes in the form of the badass banger which is How Does it Feel? If I'm honest the first time I heard this track I felt there wasn't anything in particular special about it, a generic more mainstream guitar and catchy lyrics. But the more I listen to the track the more I notice the gems cleverly hidden behind the scenes. A piano is introduced after the second chorus with a dreamy almost space/galaxy synth sound so subtle you have to strain to hear. There's also a sick guitar riff and an irregular drum beat behind Jenna's vocals before it storms back into the final chorus. The sudden intake of breath at 0.41 and the creepy girly giggle at 3.06 make the song feel even more raw and lifelike. I just love how bands can put in these little but insanely effective touches into a song to really change the feel of it.
Some may say that the drastic change of Tonight Alive's newest album may result in it heading down the same downward spiral as Paramore's latest self titled album or You Me At Six's Cavalier Youth. But I really think when artists display a new side to their sound it shows their diverse musical skill and expresses true bravery when facing criticism head on. Lets face it who really wants to listen to the same thing again and again. We all like a change occasionally and I think after two studio albums and an EP to date Tonight Alive were due for a refreshing change. I genuinely cannot contain my excitement for Limitless, if it's anything like their singles currently released we're really in for a treat! Bring on March!
Further listening;
// Human Interaction
// Drive (Acoustic)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Tell us what you think!