ALBUM REVIEW: A.R.S.O.N. – Story Of The Year
STORY OF THE YEAR have been an incredible influence in the alternative music scene in the last three decades. Their debut Page Avenue shaped the direction of the post-hardcore genre in bigger ways than ever imagined. The American quartet have clearly gone through a lot as a unit within this time with various line-up changes and a temporary hiatus back in 2011; despite this they are tighter than ever. Three years since the release of their sixth LP Tear Me To Pieces, STORY OF THE YEAR are back with a vengeance. Tear Me To Pieces explored themes including mental health and disillusion. A.R.S.O.N. appears to be continuing on that trajectory; battling with frustration, destruction and new beginnings.
Gasoline (All Rage Still Only Numb) is an energetic yet chaotic opener, which is hard to resist. From the get-go, rip roaring guitars explode through your eardrums. Vocalist Dan Marsala‘s energy is unmatched, showcasing his extraordinary vocal talent from beginning to end – a fantastic introduction to A.R.S.O.N. “Gasoline is a song about hitting your breaking point and saying fuck everything. It’s about being wild and reckless, and giving into the impulse to burn it all down and start anew.”
Next up, Disconnected is a catchy post-hardcore number with a killer chorus, which is equally as addictive. It is guaranteed to get stuck in your head for months to come. Fall Away offers a slight change of direction with effective rap style vocals from Marsala in the initial verse before progressing effortlessly into the impactful post-hardcore sound you come to expect from STORY OF THE YEAR. 3am beautifully blends a notable pop-punk melody with gritty pre-chorus screams – a definite hard-hitter on the album. My Religion is also worth a listen – a heartfelt and powerful take on a strong romantic relationship, leaving Marsala completely emotionally vulnerable.
On the contrary, Halos and Good For Me / Feel So Bad are a little less memorable in comparison. They don’t have the same infectious appeal as other tracks on the release. Melodically, they are both less experimental and a little too similar to what has already been heard. Better Than High is also a slight disappointment. Even though the shift in pace is welcomed greatly, it just doesn’t seem as authentic and meaningful as initially expected. Closer I Don’t Wanna Feel Like This Anymore ends A.R.S.O.N. on a less sour note. It is a raw, believable ballad wrapped up in bags of sincere emotion which is extremely powerful.
Overall, A.R.S.O.N. is a fantastic album despite a few flaws here and there. Standout tracks like Gasoline (All Rage Still Only Numb), Disconnected and My Religion manage to keep this release on the straight and narrow. It is inevitable to deny that STORY OF THE YEAR have serious musical prowess within the scene, which is infectious and vulnerable at best. With production powerhouse Colin Brittain (5 SECONDS OF SUMMER, LINKIN PARK) at the helm, it was always destined to be a success.
Rating: 8/10
A.R.S.O.N. is out now via SharpTone Records.
Like STORY OF THE YEAR on Facebook.