Written By: Jennifer Burch
There are times in life when things have a way of sneaking up and falling apart. Sometimes the wreckage presents itself in the form of struggling relationships, stalling careers or failing school. Sometimes it’s the little things like slamming a thumb in the car door. Once in a while, Lady Luck rears her pretty face and we’re able to pick up the pieces and move on. These are the unique moments when the moon and stars somehow perfectly align. The glue holding the pieces together actually sticks this time. British metalcore giants Asking Alexandra know firsthand what it takes to get the fuck up, dust the fuck off and put shit back together. The heavily anticipated release of their fourth album, The Black, extends perfect growls bonded with clean vocals creating powerful tracks dripping with calculated emotion.
The tension surrounding the group’s front runners is no secret. The waves are clearly heard crashing in “Sometimes It Ends”. Bands inevitably shed their skin and change the lineup. A natural transition takes place when it’s time to remove the training wheels and speed down the hill blindfolded. The recent departure of Danny Worsnop left fans disheartened and unsure about the band’s fate. The addition of Denis Shaforostov filled the void, while simultaneously coaxing lyrical demons from the shadows as heard in “Undivided” and “Circled by Wolves”.
The album evolves track by track, stripping away what you thought you knew about Asking Alexandria. As expected, the songs start slow and build, but “The Black” takes it a step further. The album pushes ripping guitars, eccentric drumming with a touch of ambiance, not to mention crystal vocals as heard in “Gone”. This album isn’t just a recovery, it’s a strong indication of what’s to come from Asking Alexandria.
