ALBUM REVIEW: Alignments – Double Experience

Canada’s DOUBLE EXPERIENCE – consisting of bassist/vocalist Ian Nichols and guitarist Brock Tinsley – have built a career that spans nine years and three strong albums. Their love of nerd rock and Dungeons and Dragons has created new album Alignments, a prog-rock concept album centred on the aforementioned RPG, and is the band’s first album to be released with the German-based music label, Drakkar Entertainment. The concept of the album surrounds the moral alignments of D&D, Good, Evil and Neutral – originally recorded as three separate EPs, these tracks with two new tracks.

Perish Song, originally from the Evil EP, introduces Alignments and immediately showcases the band’s growth from nerd rock into progressive rock. Refreshingly, this sonic change feels like a gradual evolution rather than a sudden change, and this new sound suits DOUBLE EXPERIENCE. Perish Song is an excellent opener, intense in energy and fun throughout as the instruments sound strong due to production, and the vocals are sharp. Following, New Me from the Neutral EP, and sounds even better than the opener as the guitars, the bass, the drums and the vocals come in far stronger. Having the three parts of the album mixed together without following the order of the EPs works in two ways – it helps the flow, making Alignments sound like a proper album rather than a compilation, and it works as a commentary and reflection on society: there is no set definitive good, evil or neutral.

The third song, Something’s Got To Give, is reminiscent of MALLORY KNOX, though DOUBLE EXPERIENCE always put their spin on the sound and make it their own, while My List is a mellower point of Alignments. Compared to the heavier, more fast-paced songs, My List could easily get buried within the record, and it slows the momentum that has been built thus far. Thankfully, Your Biggest Fan brings back the energy as a funky guitar riff carries the song. The energy continues through Born For It, and shows DOUBLE EXPERIENCE going from strength to strength with the songs, with both their vocals and instruments.

So Dumb and The Imp are two halves of the same coin as they flow seamlessly into each other. The Imp is the stronger side as the frantic and fast-paced instruments carry it along, though the short run time leaves a lot to be desired. Alignments‘ final and titular song is an interesting one because it’s slightly mellow tone is a slow way to end a mostly high energy album. However, the energy picks up a little bit midway through the song; this makes for a jarring song, which brings the album to a muddled close.

Although Alignments has some mellow moments which sometimes slow the pacing of album, this is a fun, upbeat album that is set to please the existing fan-base and intrigue newcomers. DOUBLE EXPERIENCE have shown growth as they master progressive rock, completing another campaign and chapter in their career.

Rating: 8/10

Alignments is out now via Drakkar Entertainment. 

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