Artist: Across Five AprilsAlbum: Life Underwater
Label: Victory Records
Released: 2/19/2008
BSTscore: 76
Life Underwater is much more driving and raw sounding than the group’s prior release, Collapse. The guitar work is strong, with a nice mix and thundering riffs and melodic interludes. The rhythm section is solid and provides a good backbone for the songs. The band has certainly grown since their 1st release, but little has changed since Collapse. The band has found a niche somewhere between metalcore and post hardcore.
I can say that there may have been some ambiguity in vocalist Brandon Mullins’ previous lyrics (if you weren’t listening close enough), but all that is out the door now. Tackling religion and politics without restraint, these are by far the most direct lyrics from the band (think Remembering Never or Underminded). As I have mentioned before, I am a big fan of using a negative approach (almost spiteful) to convey a positive message or different outlook.
I’m a little on the fence on the vocals. I felt the band’s last release was a big leap forward in the vocal department, but may have been watered down by too many clean vocals. That’s not the case on this album. The clean singing is still there, but it tends to blend with the songs a little better. Mullins has expanded his vocal range, but at times the screams take on the Mike Ski of Brother’s Keeper tone. It worked for Brother’s Keeper, but I’m not sold that it fits this band. I like that there isn’t fear of evolving or changing things up a bit, but this may not be the best direction.
Life Underwater as a whole may not as melodic as the band’s previous material (sans a couple of songs), but the album is tight and has a good flow from beginning to end. The arrangements are diverse, but not erratic. This is still a hardcore album, but you won’t find out of place breakdowns. Since the vocals didn’t sit with me at all times, I do wonder if the songs would have changed had the band stuck with the deeper screaming.
Across Five Aprils has a unique sound and isn’t afraid to try new things. I appreciate the willingness to change song structures and vocal tones without sacrificing the band’s overall sound and approach. I hope that the band continues with this direction and perhaps the next release will be even better.
Although this is a solid album and a good listen, it’s not one of those albums that pushed out everything else in my collection. It does grow on you the more you listen to it, but it probably won’t make your regular rotation.
Musicianship: 75
Vocals: 75
Impact: 75
Favorite Song: "Dreamer's Disease"
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