Artist: Our Last Night
Album: We Will All Evolve
Date Released: May 4, 2010
Genre: Post-hardcore/Emo/Pop Punk
Album Review:
Okay look, i've been getting criticism for acquiring albums prior to their official release, but I feel that i'm doing it for YOUR benefit. That's right, because how else would you know ahead of time if the album is worth investing a good 10 bucks in? See? I'm right.
With the abrasiveness of post-hardcore and lilting pop punk influence, Our Last Night takes your ears by storm with We Will All Evolve. The vocals have definitely improved since their last full-length, and definitely is more cohesive as an album. They decide to combine the common rock riffs with brutal screaming, and minimal but original breakdowns dot the album. However...I think it lacks a "place" in the music world..and I don't mean that it's made its own niche. I mean that it tried too hard to mix pop with hardcore, and didn't quite get it right. I liked The Ghosts Among Us better because it was innovative but not too chaotic. This album makes me feel like i'm stuck between We the Kings and As I Lay Dying (coming up next!!)
The album has a strong Christian theme, which partly redeems its lack of substance. And on repeat listens, I can find the beauty in the style. So well done Our Last Night, I suppose you've made a fan of me!
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Song-by-song:
Elephants: The strong, chaotic introduction perhaps is symbolic of the evolution process, as the album is so named. The theme? Escaping from Satan's tricks.
The Air I Breathe: A calmer song, with a very catchy chorus. The message is about never taking anything for granted; "I might be the first to forget, but I appreciate the air i breathe".
Mouth Machine Gun: The introduction is reminiscent of Anberlin for some reason, and this is one of the songs where I felt the screaming, or the riff, something...was just out of place. But it is quickly corrected in the chorus and onward.
Across the Ocean: This song angered me, because it started out just fine as a slow, poppy song, and then the chorus just explodes into screaming and it felt like I was in the middle of Jumanji (Robin Williams did a good job in that movie, by the way). If it stayed to the structure of most albums, I would have liked it more.
Deceiver: The title is self-explanatory. The song has a nice breakdown prior to the chorus around the 40 second mark. I feel that this is one of the heavier songs on the album. Or so I thought, because it fades into...
The Devil Inside You: With something more of a deathcore scream, this song explodes with upfront guitar riffs and the lyrics astounded: "you're just a symphony made up of violins that don't make a sound"...deep!
Distance is Destroying Me: Can't say much for this song, it's got a nice melody, but nothing really stands out. Perhaps the name should be re-named to "This Song is Destroying You". But i'm just joking.
Carry Me to Safety: This song seems to be backwards compared to the others in some parts. Very hardcore, that the singing feels out of place. Either way you look at it, this is one of my favorite songs off the album.
Into the Future: This song reminds me of The Starting Line, or Every Avenue. Some generic poppy rock band. but it's definitely catchy...except the screaming haha. Before Their Eyes was not near as bad with Untouchable, but like I said, the songs are still likeable.
We Will All Evolve: I love this song! Excellent title track! The screaming fits much better, there's a sick-nasty glitch-like intro. And the breakdowns are not so generic that they make me gag with every headbang. A good closer to the album.
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