Artist: AKissForJersey
Album: Victims
Label: Tragic Hero Records
Release Date: May 6, 2008
Review By: Kimberly Johnson
Members/Duties:
Zack Dawson- Vocals
Cory Wood- Guitar, vocals
Joey Allen- Drums
Tyler Lucas- Bass, vocals
Matt Bean- Guitar
Track Listing:
1. Devices
2. Oh, Infamous City
3. Believe
4. The Fire
5. Parallels
6. A Tree And Its Fruit
7. Faces
8. Salus Suas Extanderealas Concedit
9. II
10. The Flood
11. The Evidence
“Relief just for the night/ We all resist our will to fight/ Break forth and cry aloud by flocks and hoards we need you now…” In all honesty, there is nothing more musically refreshing then to hear words like these come from the opening track of a record. Every once in a while, a CD will come by me that makes me want to just write from a personal point of view, and less of a CD reviewers. So write from thy heart thy shall!
At first, I really was a bit reluctant toward this record, mainly letting myself be distracted by the growth in all of the members musicianship compared to they’re 2006 release, “Keep Your Head Above Water”. Like many records, it’s a good sounding CD at first listen. There’s clever tempos, catchy riffs, and an all around sense of development from the band, especially vocalist Zach Dawson. I find now, the tracks are much cleaner and crisp, which makes the vocals a WORLDS easier to understand! When I finally let the “good first impressions” subside, it really gave me a chance to listen to the record and get to the core of the emotion and lyricy. It’s a good thing too, because the standout thing about this album really are the lyrics. I can’t express to you how many times I’ve opened the booklet of a record or looked up a band’s lyrics on the web, just to find that they are truly not saying anything at all! Honestly, I’ll just be sitting there listening to muffled moans and groans thinking I’m listening to some band that has this hidden lyrical gift, only for them to be singing about the most anti-compelling thing this world has to offer! Well this isn’t a rant, it’s an album review, so back to the topic…
To say the least, this album is a concept record without even trying to be. “Victims” is the type of album that makes you want to analyze it and dig deeper into it; eventually making you want to dig deeper into yourself. It’s not the sort of album that can be given one listen and dubbed good or bad. “Victims” has layers to look through, and so much to learn about it with each and every listen. It’s a personal record; The kind where you find yourself saying, “Did he just say that!?” Silly I know, but true. The reason I strongly believe this has a lot to do with the track “Oh, Infamous City.” Smack dab in the middle of the track you just hear with all the passion and truth your stereo speakers can hold, “IN THE FACE OF MY GOD I’LL COLLAPSE!” I’m not the type of person that just puts a band’s relationship with Christ to the side, so it’s always more then appreciated when they present themselves bluntly and unashamedly with statements like this.
“Victims” “possess some genuinely progressive post hardcore talent making it nothing less then a definite job well done. I’ll stand by my word saying this band will definitely exhibit some great things for the future.
I really could sit and tell you about every breakdown and standout moment this album has to offer, but since I genuinely do think it’s an album that should be perceived on a personal level, I’ll let you experience all that good stuff for yourself.
To Sum it Up: This album can make the universe come to a halt and create the most epic, God praising pit mankind will ever see!
Big statement for another band with big potential.
Rating 7.5/10
Standout Tracks: Oh Infamous City, Believe, Parallels
Tragic Hero Records
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