It’s time to travel back to more angsty times—and less angry ones. It’s the late 2000s, the peak of Metalcore. The world is about to be hit with a recession so devastating that we collectively decided any pack of imbeciles could run nations just as well. Oh, sorry! Did I say something controversial? Is it any more controversial than the drama surrounding As I Lay Dying and its new album Through Storms Ahead? I don’t think so! But, like any wannabe professional, I’m going to refrain from edgy commentary and focus on the music. Shall we?
So, how do I put this? Through Storms Ahead is the sonic equivalent of eating an entire chocolate cake. It delivers an intense sugar rush that makes you forget about life and its miseries. It’s a distilled version of everything that works in Metalcore, with sprinkles of MeloDeath. The perfect album to indoctrinate your new friends in 2010. But now? Maybe you’re a bit too old to legally corrupt people. However, just like too much sugar, it can leave you feeling bloated and a little confused.
The album is packed with tight breakdowns, smooth transitions, and impressive vocal work (even if it’s polarizing). It’s everything a 14-year-old dreams of sounding like when learning an instrument with the intention of decapitating audiences. As I Lay Dying is the Marvel movie of Metal: sleek, tailored for its demographic, and rarely boring. Still, you can probably sense that I’m making an effort to stay positive (which, admittedly, isn’t my forte). And now, we come to your favorite part of the review.
is this picture even accurate anymore?
There are two things that keep me on the fence about Through Storms Ahead. The first is obvious: the production is so loud that my neighbors knocked on my door despite the fact that a) I’ve never spoken to them before, and b) I was wearing headphones. That’s how compressed this album feels. The second issue, less obvious but also tied to production, is that after the first four tracks, the album starts to feel like a case of “been there, done that” (just like any Marvel movie these days). It’s not the kind of experience you’ll necessarily appreciate—unless you love absurd consistency. In that case, you’re in for a treat.
Given the amount of drama surrounding As I Lay Dying, Through Storms Ahead turned out better than expected. It’s arguably a step up from Shaped by Fire, but if you’re among the rabid masses that despise Metalcore, this won’t change your mind about the band or the genre. However, if you were a teen in the 2010s and want to relive your glory days (because, let’s face it, it’s all downhill from here), then this is it!
Label: Napalm Records
Release date: 15 November, 2024
Website: https://www.facebook.com/asilaydying/
Country: USA
Score: Surviving the storm? Or 3.0/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 