I. OPENING THOUGHTS
So I present to you now my 2nd set of *RECORD INDUCTIONS* going into
my personal DVSNGH Record Collection (every month I induct 2 records),
this month (July) I bring to you 2 records that, well, contain loads of ANGER!
The first of which being, "From Death To Destiny", the 3rd album release
from British alt/metalcore band ASKING ALEXANDRIA (released, 2013).
I can simply declare this record "THE RECORD OF MY (CURRENT) TIME",
meaning, if you were ask me "what's my favorite music album? right now?!"
(not of all-time, but of right now), THIS would be "tha one", far and byfar.
Everything, from the music (obviously), the album art, even its album title,
just strikes me, what can I say, it's like the perfect package FROM HELL!
II. THOUGHTS ON ASKING ALEXANDRIA
Asking Alexandria, what a freakin' amazing band, *hands down* MY #1!
as far as 'current generation' bands go, I wouldn't quite declare them my
*all-time* favorite just yet, having only been around the block 5-6 (?) years.
Be interesting though, considering the band's personal history, that involving
*drugs, alcohol, and depression*, most particularly with band lead singer,
Danny Worsnop, if they're able hold up fine another 5-6 years (on the road).
Perhaps it's just me, but the band doesn't seem to be as *popular* anymore
(as like, 2-3 years ago), perhaps due to their most recent record (the very
same record I show you here) being touted as a 'letdown' by many its fans.
But yeah, here's hoping AA reaches bigger heights, to be our next Metallica!
III. TRACKLISTING
1. "Don't Pray For Me" (4:40)
2. "Killing You" (3:11)
3. "The Death Of Me" (4:18)
4. "Run Free" (4:10)
5. "Break Down The Walls" (3:31)
6. "Poison" (3:46)
7. "Believe" (4:31)
8. "Creature" (3:14)
9. "White Line Fever" (3:43)
10. "Moving On" (4:02)
11. "The Road" (3:27)
12. Until The End" (feat. Howard Jones) (4:30)
13. "The Death Of Me" (Rock Mix) (3:24)
IV. TRACK REFERENCE
2. "Killing You" ★★★★★
3. "The Death Of Me" ★★★★★
4. "Run Free" ★★★★★
5. "Break Down The Walls" ★★★★
1. "Don't Pray For Me" ★★★★
6. "Poison" ★★★★
13. "The Death Of Me" (Rock Mix) ★★★
7. "Believe" ★★★
11. "The Road" ★★★
12. Until The End" (feat. Howard Jones) ★★
10. "Moving On" ★★
8. "Creature" ★
9. "White Line Fever" ★
V. FAVORITE TRACK
First off, when it comes to this record, there is no one "big hit" song/single,
(unlike the band's previous 2 records, where you can easily identify them),
so picking a 'favorite track' from this record seemed a bit challenging here.
But the one track I would say that has gotten the most hits/clicks (for me)
is track #2 "Killing You", a song about, well... (still have no fucking idea, lol),
but it's the instrumentation and production of the song that won me over.
I can even recall a night I slept with this song 'on repeat' (as I laid to sleep).
The one gripe I have to say, is the music video, tho I'm happy it got a video
(and a professionally done one, not a crappy live video), it's just that it had
no connection with the song lyrics, as well as, no appearance by the band.
VI. OTHER STANDOUT TRACKS
What I liked alot with this record was its first half was non-stop adrenaline!
Like, I would listen to track #2 ("Killing You" my favorite song, as stated),
and it would blend into track #3 ("The Death Of Me"), and then track #4
("Run Free"), most of the time, I wouldn't even notice (like one big song).
But track #3 "The Death Of Me" definately deserves *HUGE PROPS* too,
the amount of times I've played this song, it's indeed surpassed overkill.
Track #5 "Break Down The Walls" I really like, mainly because it sounds
like a band I grew up listening to ALOT, when I was younger, Spineshank
(some HATE it, some LOVE it, the mixing of METAL+TECHNO is money).
And lastly, track #1 "Don't Pray For Me", and it's fuckin killer opening riffs!
VII. LEAST FAVORITE TRACKS
Sad to say, as great a record "From Death To Destiny" is, at approximately
the halfway point of the record, well, it unfortunately suffers a STROKE!
and it doesn't really pick up much, unlike the band's previous/first 2 records,
where it would bang from start to end with occasional down/filler points.
Interesting in all this, track #12 "Until The End" has guest vocals, from a
singer named 'Howard Jones', formerly of the metal band Killswitch Engage,
(who I was also a HUGE FAN of for a while, but now they are just, meh)
but the song barely had my interest, and yeah, letdown of a collaboration.
There's a bonus "The Death Of Me (Rock Mix)" thrown in there at the end,
a nice 'gift' to us AA fans, I guess, altho the original actually ROCKS more!
VIII. ARTWORK
No doubt about it, the artwork that accompanies "From Death To Destiny"
is indeed FUCKED UP, to say the least, with the whole (you know...)
*NAKED WOMAN IN THE VENDING MACHINE* (as seen on the right) :P
You dare go show this image to a group of, idunno, DIE-HARD FEMINISTS,
and yeah, I'm sure you will get alot of interesting comments, give it a try.
Now, seeing as I bought the actual VINYL RECORD here, and am able to
get a closer look at the album art, and all its detail, about the naked woman,
she is NOT DEAD! while some might think that, having gotten closer look,
it does show actual OXYGEN MARKS, lol, on the vending machine glass.
Oh and yeah, I own the t-shirt of this same image, and do wear it regularly.
IX. CLOSING THOUGHTS
Upon doing this analyzation of "From Death To Destiny", I kinda realized,
that yeah, this band's previous/first 2 records completely KILL this one,
and no wonder a good number of AA fans/supporters were letdown by it.
And yeah, had its accompanying artwork, consisting of demented pornstars,
not been so *alluring* to my eyes (sounds fucked-up, I know), well maybe,
I might not have been so *infatuated* with the album as much as I have.
While I happen to enjoy a wide range of music, there's no doubt about it,
if you happen to catch my other writings, as well as my tweets, that yeah,
I am a rather UNHAPPY, RESENTFUL, ANGRY individual (often at times),
and yeah, the music on *this record* really holds comfort to that mood.
(FRONT COVER)
(BACK COVER)
(INLAY, FULL)
(INLAY, CREDITS)
(INLAY, LYRICS)
(VINYL 1 & 2)
(VINYL 1, SIDE A)
(VINYL 1, SIDE B)
(VINYL 2, SIDE A)
(VINYL 2, SIDE B)
(CARDS, FRONT SIDE)
(CARDS, BACK SIDE)
(ALL TOGETHER)
No comments:
Post a Comment