A SILENT ESCAPE
A Silent Escape were formed following the demise of Union Square, the band that featured three quarters of A Silent Escape, who ended their major label contract with Warner to "stick to their creative path". Great PR-spin or something to be admired? Probably only the band know the answer for sure but either way there's a lot riding on their debut album in terms of showing exactly what their "creative path" is.
Although the band is compared to the likes of In Flames (they're both Swedish? Not 100% sure what the link is otherwise), this is essentially an emo/screamo album. Now, although that seems to be considered a derogatory term at the moment I'd argue that it's not in this case. It's been done in such a way that isn't as sickly and slick as some of the bigger players in the genre while retaining the bouncy, catchy, pop-punk elements. The thing that slightly grates sometimes is the slightly over-Americanised clean vocals but these are cancelled out to some extent by the fact that they don't rely on one vocal style so if one annoys you then a different one will be around in a few seconds - just hold on in there.
There's a lot here to get stuck in your head as well, so if you don't like having one line of a song looping in your head then it's probably for the best if you steer clear of this. Virtually every song has a certain hook that has the potential to stay with you for days, even if it does take a few listens for it to sink in. They are a cut above your average scenester act so I have no doubt that they will have a certain appeal within that market. Doubtless most death metal fans won't have time for this but I doubt that they're the band's target audience anyway. To be honest, I think I should probably hate it but there's something about it that grabbed me. Wouldn't go as far as to file it under "guilty pleasures" but still...
Although the band is compared to the likes of In Flames (they're both Swedish? Not 100% sure what the link is otherwise), this is essentially an emo/screamo album. Now, although that seems to be considered a derogatory term at the moment I'd argue that it's not in this case. It's been done in such a way that isn't as sickly and slick as some of the bigger players in the genre while retaining the bouncy, catchy, pop-punk elements. The thing that slightly grates sometimes is the slightly over-Americanised clean vocals but these are cancelled out to some extent by the fact that they don't rely on one vocal style so if one annoys you then a different one will be around in a few seconds - just hold on in there.
There's a lot here to get stuck in your head as well, so if you don't like having one line of a song looping in your head then it's probably for the best if you steer clear of this. Virtually every song has a certain hook that has the potential to stay with you for days, even if it does take a few listens for it to sink in. They are a cut above your average scenester act so I have no doubt that they will have a certain appeal within that market. Doubtless most death metal fans won't have time for this but I doubt that they're the band's target audience anyway. To be honest, I think I should probably hate it but there's something about it that grabbed me. Wouldn't go as far as to file it under "guilty pleasures" but still...
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Self-released
Album
A SILENT ESCAPE
Review by Siān Williams
RUNNING TIME:
-
RELEASE DATE:
4th June 2012
TRACK LISTING
1) Blackhole Gravity
2) Final Chapter
3) Losing Grip
4) From Words to Beating
5) God's a Liar; 6) Ticket Back
7) Can't Be the End
8) Bullets
9) Smalltown Outcast
10) My Habit
11) Mrs Reaper
12) Goodbye Mr Pig
2) Final Chapter
3) Losing Grip
4) From Words to Beating
5) God's a Liar; 6) Ticket Back
7) Can't Be the End
8) Bullets
9) Smalltown Outcast
10) My Habit
11) Mrs Reaper
12) Goodbye Mr Pig
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Sweden
"Virtually every song has a certain hook that has the potential to stay with you for days..."
