So I just wanted to devote a blog posting, to give a special Rest In Peace,
to one of my favorite bands, to whom I recently discovered had *disbanded*,
this being Toronto-based metalcore band, Abandon All Ships (2006-2014).
Indeed, not just "one of" my fave current rock bands, I'd easily say "Top 5".
(Current Top 5: Korn, Slipknot, Asking Alexandria, Issues, AWOLNATION).
Sadly, the reason for the breakup of "AAS" (unlike many band breakups)
was not due to 'creative differences' or '(growing) animosity within the band',
but simply because, their music was just not appreciated by the masses,
although (me saying) "not appreciated" is kinda putting it mildly, cuz they
not only had a fanbase, but they had haters, and quite a legion of them.
II. DISCOVERING ABANDON ALL SHIPS
So I first came across Abandon All Ships, in spring 2011, upon skimming
through the "2010 Warped Tour Compilation", which had featured their hit
single (and biggest-hit-to-date) "Take One Last Breath" (see youtube clip),
a song, which I hadn't realized at its time, had created a huge buzz wave,
right here in my homeland of Canada, just in the previous summer (2010),
it even lead them winning "MuchMusic Video Of The Year" (award) in 2011.
Now yeah, I indeed stopped paying attention to MuchMusic, since 2002,
upon realizing, how much MuchMusic is indeed a waste of fucking time,
and that I didn't need to be "guided" anymore into what I should listen to,
but yeah, had I still been watching it, I mighta discovered AAS a lil sooner.
III. ABANDON ALL SHIPS SOUND
So what I liked about Abandon All Ships was that they were a "fusion band",
meaning, a band trying to blend different music genres, within each song.
Though, Abandon All Ships may not been the first band to had ever infused
"heavy metal" with "dance/techno/house" music, nonetheless, the formula
they had created was unique and different from what I'd already heard.
They sounded like a band who wanted to lay down the (heavy) riffs, and
give everything the 'metal fan' wanted (riffs, double-bass drums, etc etc.),
but in terms of 'vocals', they had 2 vocalists, one who provided "screams",
and yeah, wasn't quite good at it, and another who sang the "soft" vocals,
and then AUTO-TUNED it, lol, tho I personally liked it... the masses did not.
IV. GEEVING (2010 RECORD)
So upon discovering AAS, and their hit single "Take One Last Breath"
(from the 2010 Warped Tour Compilation), I went and seeked a download
of Abandon All Ship's first record, entitled "Geeving" (2010, Rise Records),
hoping to hear more of that same, amazing sound (incl. auto-tuned vocals,
despite the huge detest most people have against that style/effect of vocal),
and was I ever more-than-pleased, though, it didn't strike me hard enough
to wanna buy their CD, get their t-shirt, see them perform live (at the time),
I felt like this was a band "of the future" with many good records to come.
Little did I realize, they ended up being just a 'fad band', seeing as how
the band would have less-and-less fanfair with each record that came after.
V. INFAMOUS (2012 RECORD)
So in the summer of 2012, AAS released their second record, "Infamous",
(2012, Rise Records), continuing with their musical style, "electronicore"
(internet term, for 'rock/metal' + 'euro/house'), and indeed, continuing on
with *heavily* auto-tuned vocals, much to the dismay of the masses, lol,
some going as far as labeling them "Heavy Metal's Equivalent to "Ke$ha",
(the singer most known for auto-tune singing, as well as, driving it to death).
As for the record ("Infamous") itself, as much as I (personally) LOVED IT,
it didn't really go over too well, in terms of both 'sales' and '(record) reviews',
due in part to the HATE following the band amassed, as well as the fact,
the chosen singles ("Infamous", "August") to push the record were horrible.
VI. FOREVER LONELY (SONG)
So the one song for me here, and perhaps my fave AAS song of all-time
came off this record ("Infamous"), this being "Forever Lonely" (track 8),
indeed, the song I musta played the MOST (on-repeat) of all their songs,
need I have to explain (in detail) why it is like it, just hear it for yourself
(see link), but take caution (when listening), it's a lil on the "dark" edge,
as well as the fact, it's a bit *LOUD* (quite the, uh, emotional track it is).
Though, I can't really connect with the song's (lyrical) verses, as it relates
to "relationship problems" (having to do with some guy not trusting his girl),
but I connect with the song's title "Forever Lonely", being the fact that, I live
an isolated life, having NO FRIENDS, and NO ONE wanting be my friend.
VII. MALOCCHIO (2014 RECORD)
So, considering the fact their first 2 records received huge (um) scrutiny,
from all sides of the spectrum, from "the mainstream", bitching over their
(repeated) use of auto-tuned/over-produced vocals, and "the underground"
(or *metal purists*) bitching how the other vocalist "can't scream right" (?),
and yeah, the fact (andso I heard alot) they really suck as a "live band",
you would kinda think, 'the writing was on the wall', either Abandon All Ships
were gonna disband, before a "third record" would ever be considered,
or they would at least make some changes (to their sound) for the better,
and yes indeed, come time for their third record "Malocchio" (which is,
Italian for "Evil Eye"), they made changes, ie. no more auto-tune vocals!
VIII. MALOCCHIO (2014 RECORD) II
So yeah, in February (2014), Abandon All Ships released what would be
their third (and final) album "Malocchio" (2014, Rise Records), a record,
bytheway, that received little-to-no hype (well, outside of facebook, and
a "lyric video" on YouTube for the album's first single "Reefer Madness")
upon its release, kinda making me wonder, if this was done intentionally,
by their record label, either cuz, they were done (/dissatisfied) with AAS,
considering, they (the label) did hype their previous record ("Infamous"),
and yeah, it completely bombed, and noticed the band is seen as *a joke*,
so yeah, if they have them 'on contract' for "one more record", hmmm,
they (the label) might as well, get it out of the way, and -drop- them (?).
IX. MALOCCHIO (2014 RECORD) III
So, that's kinda my theory as to why Abandon All Ships indeed chose to
(wait for it...) ABANDON SHIP!!! (lmfao, sorry, but just had to been said).
Now, as far as "Malocchio" as a music record goes, it was fucking amazing,
in terms of melody, songwriting, and production (minus, of course, the lyrics,
cuz if you weren't aware to it, AAS's lyrics are the absolute fuckin shits, lol),
but this was a band tryin put out one of the most melodic metal records ever,
yet sadly, there was a huge lack of audience (and label) support behind it,
instead, given to other labelmates' 'Memphis May Fire' and 'Of Mice & Men',
2 of the most generic-ass sounding metalcore bands going strong, atm,
but then again, who cares about "melody", all about "the chords" (right?!).
X. ABANDON ALL SHIPS CONCERT (8/11/14)
So lastly, I wanna talk about the Abandon All Ships concert (08/11/14),
coming to my very city of Brampton, which I 'was' planning to buy tickets
and go to, despite the fact (having heard many reviews and from seeing
Youtube clips) that they kinda suck as a "live performance band", lol, but I
was mainly going out of "loyalty" (and it was gonna be my first concert in
7 YEARS, as I'm not much of a concert guy), but yeah, how awesome was it,
they (headliners) bailed outta the show (2 weeks before), leaving behind,
yeah, 4 other bands I never heard of, nor give a fuck to wanna hear (lol),
and yeah, a month later, they announced their break up on facebook (awe),
and that they would be playing their farewell show, 09/25/14, in Toronto :P
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