[8/10]
Being one of the most hotly anticipated albums of 2014, it was always going to be hard for Of Mice & Men to live up to the hype. The third release from the group, however the first full-length without vocalist/guitarist Shayley Bourget, brings a new feel to this album to previous releases. The album starts with ‘Public Service Announcement’ and ‘Feels Like Forever’ it is possible to tell the band has grown and while you can tell it is still Of Mice and Men, there is another layer with them that wasn’t there before. These songs, like the majority of the other songs of the album, have a very positive message. This is particularly seen in ‘Your Not Alone’ with the lyrics such as ‘don’t let the world bring you down’. Throughout the album, the band carve out a unique sound that you can hear where they get their influences. While the majority of the album is a mix of Bring Me The Horizon and Sleeping With Sirens, something that will please the vast majority of their fan base as well as bring in new fans to the band, closing with what has been known as the standard Of Mice & Men slow song was a big mistake. It really doesn’t fit in the album and is just a poor slow song that is boring. Meanwhile songs such as ‘Your Not Alone’, ‘Bones Exposed’, ‘Identity Disorder’ and ‘You Make Me Sick’ really stand out on the album and will be fantastic live due their quick pace and the standard of the breakdowns. Overall this is an album which will gain a cult following and be hugely supported by them, as well as help follow on the work of bands like Bring Me The Horizon on bringing metal back to the mainstream.
Sam Taylor
