Yorkshire’s favorite sons Asking Alexandria are back with a new full-length, determined to put the ghosts of the past behind them and seize some sort of unofficial metalcore crown and miter. This being the first album of new music since the much talked about departure of former frontman Danny Worsnop (We Are Harlot), who himself was synonymous with the band, the band has been under massive scrutiny. Factoring in the challenges of incorporating new singer Denis Stoff (Sharforostov) of AA soundalike Make Me Famous, and the fact that some of the fans doubts, you could say this release came at a critical juncture. Never being one to back down from a challenge, guitarist/band mastermind Ben Bruce and his new singer mostly crafted an album as strong or better than anything in they have done. To the most cynical, die-hard fan this music will squash any notion that the band could possibly fall off without Worsnop. The Black (Sumerian) will likely be looked back in the future as a pivotal album, the time when metalcore grew up, without watering it down as a genre.
While droves of the scene bands strive to run away from their roots (Parkway Drive and BMTH among others), Asking Alexandria has made a metalcore history lesson of sorts. The sound of the band on The Black covers where they were when they started with Stand Up and Scream (Sumerian), to the present. It is a well written, immaculately produced affair and a lot of props has to be given to Ben Bruce and his bag of licks. ‘Let It Sleep’ raucous battle cry. Straight in the typical style of the band, it is harsh, grooves, and has a terrific refrain for screaming along with. Denis just bruises his way through the track, like puncher in a prize-fight.
The title track is a beast too. The simple driving riff could be mistaken for Five Finger Death Punch or Sevendust, but all the heaviness the band is known for bringing. The chorus is massive, and these first two songs are going to be blaring out of car windows and scarring soccer moms all summer. ‘I Won’t Give In’ follows and is kind of a unique metalcore power-ballad of sorts. It’s not the best track here, but the tempo and the delivery have the desired dramatic effect they were going for. ‘Sometimes it Ends’ is the only song that blatantly addresses the Worsnop split and the fallout. The track is phenomenal and has the power and a flavor the band hasn’t really shown before. Perhaps one of their best tracks to date in terms of brutality and songcraft.
‘The Lost Souls’ is a lament for the millennial generation and another strong cut. It seems like the band focused on making these massive tracks, but without too much clutter. Stoff gets on the Chester Bennington/Jonathan Davis level emotionally here vocally. You can just close your eyes and imagine the massive festival crowds screaming this in unison. Returning producer Joey Sturgis may have out done himself here.other strong tracks include the ‘Send Me Home’, ‘We’ll Be OK’, the epic balladry of ‘Gone’, and the closing track ‘Circled By Wolves’. There are a few tracks here that aren’t the strongest top to bottom, but none of them are skippable moments.
With this new batch of powerful songs and Stoff and his flexible vocal chords in tow, you see the band living up to all the promise and hype they have been given, instead of falling off.
8.0/10
KEITH CHACHKES
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