A Thorn for Every Heart could be just another band trying to cash in on the schizophrenic screamo revolution, but after one listen to their Kickball Records release Things Aren’t so Beautiful Now, it’s evident that these guys are trying to take it one step further.
Things Aren’t So Beautiful Now opens with “99 with an Anchor,” which could immediately tricks listeners into thinking they’ve just bought a pop-punk album. As “99 with an Anchor” progresses, it’s evident that ATFEH construct their songs with tact. There are definitive structural parts to these songs that can be heard by almost anyone.
ATFEH have built their sound on vocal and musical textures. The crisp high-pitched vocals would seem to completely contradict the throat slicing screams, but these guys bring it all together very well. On “A Night to Remember, A Morning to Forget” there are two sung, not screamed, vocal parts that are totally different lyrically and seem to battle each other for the main stage. It would seem like it could be too much, but in fact it makes for a rather awesome sound. On songs like “Summer so Bleak” and “Pretty When You Cry” the screamed vocal parts are so strong and so harsh that they really add some power to these already complex songs.
The use of lofty and floating guitars is another aspect that adds strength and credibility to ATFEH. At times it feels like the music is just soaring through space before it comes back down to smack you in the head. ATFEH incorporate the use of violins on “Street Car” to make their sound more unique, but they’re not afraid to show their metal roots. The drum riffs are extremely strong on tracks like “The Prediction” and “Things Aren’t So Beautiful Now (Part 1).”
Overall Things Aren’t So Beautiful Now is an extremely strong and mainstream worthy record. These guys can be compared to a lot of your favorites like Senses Fail and even Taking Back Sunday. I give Things Aren’t So Beautiful Now an 8 (out of 10). Sure it may sound a lot like what’s already out there, but there’s no denying that it’s good.
Suggested Listening: “99 With an Anchor,” “Next of Kin,” “Summer So Bleak” and “Things Aren’t So Beautiful Now (Part 1)”
Adam K. Zakroczymski III – Senior Editor / Founder
