Rock Album Reviews

Whilst completing Kerrang! work experience last summer, one task given to me was to write album reviews. The work I produced can be found below:

The last album I bought:

ALL TIME LOW

DON’T PANIC: IT’S LONGER NOW!

(Hopeless Records)

BALTIMORE POP-PUNKS ROCK THEIR REISSUE

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Nowadays it’s common for bands to re-release albums, with deluxe editions seemingly becoming a necessity. Often the new songs are easily ignored, but this isn’t the case with All Time Low’s latest effort. 

  Significantly improving the original with four new tracks and acoustic versions, yet still maintaining their trademark punk energy and catchy hooks, this album highlights their growth over their 11–year career.

  The addition of Pierce the Veil’s Vic Fuentes on A Love Like War sets for the bar for the album - two rock powerhouses are, of course, better than one. The edgy rock feel and vocal sparring of Fuentes and Alex Gaskarth accentuate their voices immeasurably. 

  The other newbies live up to this standard, such as Me Without You (All I Ever Needed), which brilliantly showcases Rian Dawson’s high-impact drumming. 

  Clearly the day of the deluxe is here.

Download: The Reckless and the Brave (acoustic)

For fans of: You Me At Six, Fall Out Boy

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My favourite album:

FALL OUT BOY

FROM UNDER THE CORK TREE

(Island Records)

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AMERICAN ROCKERS IMPRESS WITH WITTY SOPHOMORE ALBUM

It’s possible for bands to overdo the effects of Broken Heart Syndrome in lovelorn albums, but here Pete Wentz’s lyrical brilliance turns the theme of heartbreak into gritty rock ear candy.                         

  The long song titles provide only a hint of the wit within the album, such as the wry comment on their own success with Sophomore Slump or Comeback of the Year. With entertaining hooks and raw melodies at every turn, it’s sure to put a smile on even the hardest of faces. 

  Emulating the instrumental energy of their debut Take This to Your Grave, its eclectic nature, even including growling screamo in I Slept With Someone in Fall Out Boy And All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me, makes this album 2005’s most exciting release. So put down that post-breakup junk food, and stick this on.

Download: Sophomore Slump or Comeback of the Year

For fans of: Panic! At The Disco, The Academy Is…