Every Time I Die
New Junk Aesthetic
Release Date: September 15, 2009
This album kicks your ass before you ever even put it on your stereo/iPod/whatever the hell you listen to your music on. The packaging is amazing. If you buy a hard copy of the record(as opposed to the popular iTunes download alternative), you will notice the outstanding artwork, designed and drawn by Every Time I Die guitarist Jordan Buckley. You can check out more of Jordan's artwork at http://www.jordanbuckleymadethis.com/ and see more of the album artwork featured in the video to the band's first single off New Junk Aesthetic, Wanderlust.
Now, for the music.This album is totally Every Time I Die. it is totally true to their sound and style, but different at the same time. They've grown, and improved. The shattering riffs and the heavy vocals are fully in tact, but the music has a different flavor than, say, Gutter Phenomenon or The Big Dirty. First off, Ryan Leger's drumming really sticks out in my head on this album (maybe it's the drummer in me). It sounds even heavier, cleaner, crisper, faster, and all around more multifaceted, deep and intense than previous albums. The guitars sound new and improved as well. Either Andy Williams and Jordan Buckley aren't doing as much with the dual guitar sound, or they are just so in sync and tight that it's not as noticeable.The guitar sound is a lot darker and more brooding, much heavier than previous works. The riffs are catchy and intricate, and bassist Josh Newton's (formerly of From Autumn To Ashes) playing style compliments Andy and Jordan VERY well.
Kieth Buckley's vocals/lyrics. What can I say? I love lyrics that are a little quirky and open for interpretation. The lyrics on this record really fit the bill. As far as his vocals, they seem to be even heavier on this album than previous albums, and he has knocked his own vocal range out of the park. His screams are higher pitched and bolder than they were on earlier records, and he manages to get thim just right, never reaching that annoying ass dogs can only hear this shit screech. He even SINGS with a growling, screaming vengeance. Basically, it's Keith, only bigger, stronger, harder, and just better. There are guest vocals on the album from Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy on After One Quarter of a Revolution, Greg Puciato of The Dillenger Escape Plan on The Marvelous Slut (one of my favorties on the album), and Matt Caughthran of The Bronx on The Sweet Life.
The production quality is of this album is also phe-freakin-nomenal!!!!! New Junk Aesthetic was produced by Steve Evetts, who in addition to producing Every Time I Die's The Big Dirty, has also done production for The Dillenger Escape Plan. In my opinion, using the same producer and the same studio to record New Junk Aesthetic not only contributed greatly to the albums intensity, but aided in staying true to the band's sound as well. The pace of this album is faster it's predecessor, The Big Dirty. It's more the speed of Hot Damn! It's a steady, rapid firing brutal flow of ass-kicking southern hardcore. If you are looking for something closer to the mainstream crap that is infiltrating your radios and TVs today, this album is not for you. It will rip your face off your skull and slap you with it. Old school Every Time I Die fans, rejoice. In a world where so many bands sell thier souls to be played on modern rock radio, New Junk Aesthetic kicks the shit out of modern rock radio and sends it packing.
Basically, Every Time I Die raised the bar for themselves and every other "hardcore" band out there. It combines all of the previous Every Time I Die albums, amps up the musicianship and tightens up the sound and rocks you from start to finish. Plus, each track is equally amazing. You know how some records have say, 9 killer tracks, and 3 or 4 that you always shuffle passed? Not this one. It kicks your ass from start to finish.
I give New Junk Aesthetic a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars. It may not be perfect, but in a world where Nickelback and all the Nickelbackish shit out there is considered rock, it's as goddamned close as you can get without going over. If you haven't already, get your ass on iTunes and download it or down to your local record store and pick it up.
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