A Positive Development |
The New York-band From autumn to ashes is back after two years with
a new album and one less member,
but that doesn't have to be a bad thing.
By: Thomas Dahlquist
Written: 2007-08-19
From Autumn to Ashes has always been known for their distinct sound
driven by the lead-throat Ben Perri togheter with high pitched
singing and occasional screaming from the drummer Francis Mark. But
when Ben Perri departed from the band, many fans were unsure about
F.A.T.A.’s destiny. But instead of splitting up, Francis Mark step up
from the drums to conquer the microphone. However the drumming on
the record is recorded by him as well.
Instead of focusing on the bright and sometimes almost a bit too
whiny chorus, Francis Mark is taking the band a step further in the
right direction and almost screams his way through the whole album.
As a old F,A,T,A,-fan, you will be stunned, because Mark pulls of a even
better scream than his old buddy Perri.
F.A.T.A.'s 4th album opens up with the furious “Deth Kult Social Club”, is even
more speeded up by “On the offensive” and then goes to the more
chorus and spoken “Recounts and recollections”, a song I think is about the bands development "This is a progression
and you would prefer the obsolete so leave". It’s already
after just a couple of songs clearly how frictionless the transition
between tempos, soft and rough parts in the songs is.
“Daylight Slaving” is the first song on the album relying more on
singing than screaming- but that is not a disadvantage. Mark mixes
his old school singing we all know him for, with his developed
howling.
A great difference in this album from the old ones is the
instrumental-style. Where older albums relied more on metal and
typical metalcore chords and drumkicks, “Holding a wolf by the ears”
leans more on Hardcore Punk’s guitar riffs and tempos.
“Delusions of Grandeur” is one of the tracks that display the mix of
softness and harshness best. The song has a great part that sounds
like a best of from modern Hardcore Punk-bands, followed by nicely
metal-ish double bass drum pedals. Its guitars floats into the next
track; “Sensory Deprivation Adventure”.
This song has the bands new sound in the beginning, but then drops
more into their old one. So fans of their old material will find
recognition here.
Next song, “Everything I need” begins with a noisy guitar intro
which then develops into something that sounds somewhat like a great
“Comeback kid”-anthem with more harsh vocals.
“Underpass Tutorial” begins with a furious intro which becomes the
verse background sound for the rest of the song. It flows into a
slower melody which later slows down even further into a bridge,
without me as a listener reacts negatively.
“Love it or left it” basically uses the same pattern, but with a
slightly less furiously performed introduction.
“Travel” is a melodic punk-song which breaks down in Mark’s
screaming.
“A goats in sheeps rosary” has sweeping speedy hardcore riffs over
an almost constant metal double bass pattern with screaming and then
slows down with spoken words and sung melody. This is probably the
song on the album where the tempo is changed the most amount of
times. The song ends with an atmospheric piano-outro together with
spoken words.
And so finally to the bands first single and music video “Pioneers”. Here there’s a lot of guitar melody and screaming mixed with singing.
It’s a great, catchy song reminiscing about F.A.T.A.’s old albums.
“Holding a wolf by the ears” is a great album. There isn’t a single
bad track among the dozen on it, and even though the singing becomes
almost a little bit poppy and whiny in songs like “Daylight Slavings”,
the vocals is overall top notch.
Francis Mark is constantly sounds like he just got his heart
broken or is about to get shipped away to the asylum and having a
panic attack, and that is a bit rare today’s music business where
not every singer can pull off something like that.
The instrumentals are great with furious breaks, soothing accords
and hammering bass drum patterns. This album is definitely something
you should check out if you’re in to more melodic-hardcore or don’t
miss Ben Perris lower pitched screaming and the more metal-sound
from older albums all too much.
I don't prefer the obsolete and I won't leave.
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Artist |
From autumn to ashes |
Album |
Holding a wolf by the ears |
Genres |
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Length |
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40 mins approx. |
Release date |
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10 April 2007 |
Label |
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Vagrant |
Outstanding Tracks |
02. On the Offensive,
05. Delusions of Grandeur,
07. Everything I Need |
|
Tracklist |
01. Deth Kult Social Club |
2:47 |
02. On the Offensive |
3:42 |
03. Recounts and Recollections |
3:02 |
04. Daylight Slaving |
3:38 |
05. Delusions of Grandeur |
2:58 |
06. Sensory Deprivation Adventure |
2:53 |
07. Everything I Need |
3:49 |
08. Underpass Tutorial |
3:20 |
09. Love It or Left
It |
3:13 |
10. Travel |
3:01 |
11. A Goat in Sheep's Rosary |
3:47 |
12. Pioneers |
3:42 |
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