Album art for Florence + The Machine’s “Moderation.” Photo courtesy of Google Images.
By Reece Jamison
Staff Writer
Well, here we are in the New Year. You and I, my dear readers. Free of the rags of yesteryear. Yearning for the new experiences that the calendar year of two thousand and nineteen has to offer. There are some who chose to branch out, making promises of change and self-improvement. There are others, such as Weezer who unfortunately decided that the world wanted a cover album of eminent 80’s tracks that are forever ruined for everyone who enjoys music on a deeper level than, “Wow, that’s catchy!”
The first track I’ll review is a bit of a personal pick, Bring Me the Horizon’s (BMTH) “wonderful life (feat. Dani Filth).” The band released their sixth album, amo, on Friday and, speaking of change, has this teenage angst metal band evolved. amo is more closely aligned with an underground house album concocted in a basement by a pop loving metal head than any of their previous work.
“Wonderful life” is about the closest on the album a BMTH fan will get to the band’s original sound. The instrumental is a mashup of a compressed distorted guitars, riffing right along with sharp and sonorous synths. Lead singer Oliver Sykes employs his more recently polished clean vocals, belting out about partying on a Saturday night. There’s a lot more I could say about the track but to wrap it up, BMTH is forging a new sound as a group, one that I did not see coming. The pop infused hard rock is not for everyone, but it’s an inventive change well worth a listen on a rowdy evening.
The second track up for review is Florence + The Machine’s, “Moderation.” I will be frank, I have never listened to the indie rock group, but I was thoroughly impressed with this new single. The lyrics center around singer Florence Welch’s experience with organized religion, as she proclaims her rebellion against the sort of behavioral constraints imposed by it. The smart lyrical quips are accompanied by a quaint bluesy big band instrumental.
The piano melody is accented by its open sound recording (probably meant to invoke a live atmosphere), haunting vocal layers, hand claps and crunchy drums sounding like marching feet. If you find yourself in need of letting loose and drowning out the ridiculousness of the Teal Album, these two tracks will get you up and on your feet.