ALBUM REVIEW: Will You Still Love Me? – THECITYISOURS

Will You Still Love Me? is the third album by THECITYISOURS, following on from 2021’s breakout album Coma, which saw the band break into the Top 5 iTunes metal chart. Ever since forming in London, the band have been pushing the boundaries of metalcore by blending it seamlessly with pop. They are known for their energetic live shows and appearances at festivals such as Burn It Down, Download, and Camden Rocks, THECITYISOURS are set to take on the world. Will You Still Love Me? is the tipping point that will aid them.

Don’t be fooled by the seductive synth-rock beat that starts Shame; THECITYISOURS haven’t lost their edge one bit. Flipping between synth-rock and brutal metalcore, the opening song provides the introduction to the rest of the album. Whether it is the pop-metal of In The Dark, which expertly blends metal screams with singalong choruses that wouldn’t sound out of place on the mainstream radio, the up-tempo arena-metal of Hot Mess, or the techno-rock of Sugar, the album constantly keeps listeners on their toes throughout the twelve-track runtime.

Whilst it might sound like a recipe for disaster, as each song juggles multiple genres within a three to four minute runtime, it works very well. This is because the band stick to three broad genres, allowing themselves to push the boundaries of music whilst staying coherent. Freak Like Me is a pop-rock song for the most part, apart from the second verse, backing vocals, and the final minute of the song, where the screams come in.

If the first half of the album was dedicated to the band’s metalcore sound, then the second half is the flip. Whilst there are still elements of metal, the majority of the songs are rock and pop leaning, although songs like Work It Out (If You Let Me) find a balance between the two genres, which is backed by an electronic beat.

Pacing-wise, the album is fast-paced, especially with the electronic beats that are the backing track to a lot of the songs. Even with the more rock-influenced songs such as Hush! Hush! (which even has a saxophone solo thrown in for good measure), the guitars are fast. The band even delve into hip-hop influences on songs such as Psycho, further showcasing their experimentation.

Eventually, as the album draws near its end, it slows down a bit. I See You is a mid-tempo post hardcore song that is a welcome break from the other faster songs, whereas Can You Feel It? is an up-tempo electro-metal song. Closing song Enough is a mid-tempo five minute epic that is the best of the entire album, expertly blending metal screams with anthemic rock vocals and instruments. It is one of the highlights of the album.

Overall, Will You Still Love Me? by THECITYISOURS shows the band at their very best. They are confident and this album pushes the boundaries of their music whilst also keeping in line with their previous releases. By choosing a few broad genres, the band can keep things fresh without it sounding out of place. The majority of the album is fast-paced, but it slows down a bit at the end for a more mid-tempo style of rock. It all works thanks to the brilliant production. THECITYISOURS might be asking Will You Still Love Me?, but once fans hear this album, the answer will be a resounding yes.

Rating: 8/10

Will You Still Love Me? is out now via Arising Empire.