ALBUM REVIEW: The Phantom Five – AWOLNATION
Electronic rock outfit AWOLNATION are back with their fifth studio album The Phantom Five. According to frontman and founder Aaron Bruno, this record is a representation of the different methods that Bruno has mastered in expanding the sounds experimented with and the stories told in AWOLNATION’s music. So how has that come across on the album? Well in short, The Phantom Five offers a near-perfect collection of songs that can enjoyed by many and beautifully convey a variety of emotions.
The opening track Jump Sit Stand March starts things off with a distorted chanting of the song title before shifting into a slam poetry vocal style accompanied by noisy alternative–pop synths, contrasting directly with the much smoother vocals that appear in the chorus. Adding more to this track which appears to be a criticism and description of being overstimulated in the world we live in are the vocals of Emily Armstrong of DEAD SARA, with her voice beautifully matching and emulating the vocals heard in the first verse. A strong first impression.
The following tracks vary in style, sound and mood. On the one hand the album has more upbeat songs like Party People, that features fast acoustic guitar and electronic drum and bass that blends to create something one can easily visualise a large room of people jumping and shouting along to, especially in its anthemic chorus, and the chaotic Bang Your Head, which very much earns its title through the bouncy, shouty vocals alongside equally erratic synths that are short and to the point.
On the other hand, there are the more gentle, melancholic numbers that can leave you with a sense of calm and childlike wonder, as heard in the bluesy Panoramic View, or being the perfect embodiment of the sentiment of dancing while crying as heard on A Letter To No One that has moody lyrics accompanied by alternative pop synths that has the nostalgic feel of a summer song you might have heard on the radio in the 00s.
To end this experience, closer Outta Here heavily relies on ethereal sound effects alongside a low bass. In a way, one can view this as a bittersweet conclusion of the all the emotions the listener experiences within this record, a reminder that the two conflicting emotions of sadness and hope can exist simultaneously; it’s all part of being human. And it’s a beautiful thing.
Rating: 8/10
The Phantom Five is out now via Better Noise Music.
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