CLICK THE URL TO HEAR THE NEW SONG. LYRICS INCLUDED.
Well, here it is. The long-awaited A Day To Remember single. I knew this day would come... *long inhale*
Around the beginning of December, the band decided to throw together this #ADTR21 campaign. No one had a dang clue about what the heck was happening. All we, the fans, knew, was that there was going to be something new for us on December 21st (if the world didn't end, that is. The Mayans probably wanted to keep us from hearing this marvelous new song, but the unyielding force that is A Day To Remember saved the day). Some people claimed that the new album would be released on this day, but I figured that couldn't be the case. While surprising the world with a new album is a cool concept, it's a friggen' stupid idea. After refreshing the band's website about a billion times, I finally got to the front page, and there it was. A DAY TO REMEMBER - VIOLENCE [ENOUGH IS ENOUGH].
ADTR is one of my all-time favorite bands. No, I'm not one of those scene kids that only listen to -core tunes and the current years Warped Tour compilation. I was born into the Christian music scene, raised by classic rock, taught myself the art of alternative, flourished into metal, and I've been getting heavy into hip hop/R&B these past few yeas. But I digest...
I don't think there's a song from these guys that I don't like. I mean, they've progressed from a pop-punk band touring with New Found Glory (where you at, 4YS?), to experimenting with heavy post-hardcore tunes (and succeeding in the experiments, might I add), and they've always thrown a handful of radio-friendly rock hits. Everything they do is just... good. Lyrically, they aren't nearly as cheesy as most acts. Jeremy puts is heart into the words. Instrumentally, there isn't a dang flaw to be found. Except having a pervert bassist who enjoys the company of a minor every now and then. Again, digest...
This new song is heavy. Like... heavy heavy. The guitar effects in combination with the compressed drums give a preview of the new album, and they've definitely taken aspects from the scene and put them towards the new tunes. It sounds like something you've heard before, but it's just got that ADTR flair that makes it beautiful.
Jeremy's vocals have consistently progressed through the years. Cleans and screams are quite interesting, here. On one hand, they both sound like he's in his prime. My only con is that there's a tad too much reverb on them, for my liking. It just sounds overdone, and I can't help but think back to the Homesick days, when it was just his voice with the *tiniest* amount of post-pro effects. Granted, this might just be because it's the first song, and they needed to make an impact. Don't worry, you did.
Let's chat instruments. Alex Shelnutt is one of my favorite drummers, and I've always been insanely impressed with his "pocket metal" skills. The dude can beat the balls out of that kit, but he does so with class and elegance. He knows when to hold back, and he understands that drums are meant to mesh with guitars, not just be a prominent feature (unless you're Slipknot. Which you are not). He's a musician first, drummer second. Speaking of guitars, Neil and Kevin have a way of just clicking with one another. Each individual's track compliments the others in such a way, that it brings a whole new level of musicianship to each song. Between alternating harmonic chord progressions, to some sick solos that make me feel weird tinglies in my pants, they just do work. Josh plays bass and sleeps with minors. That's about all I care to say.
All in all, this is a ballin' song. It's got everything I'd expect from an A Day To Remember song, and more. But you know the best part? It's only the first single. There's a dozen-ish more songs that we have yet to hear. Yeah, this song is good, but bands don't release their best stuff first. This is only the beginning. And by the beard of Zeus, I cannot wait to hear what they have in store for us.