[10/10]
After releasing one of the best EPs in recent years, in the form of Black Diamonds, combined with the success the predecessor band, Woe Is Me, Issues came to release their debut album with high expectations. These expectations were smashed within the first song of the album. This album combines Rock, Metal, Pop, R n B, Hip Hop, Dance and pretty much every other genre of music you can think of. This album has more pop hooks, which are catchier than a cold, than the last 10 years of pop music combined. The dance grooves combined the metal breakdowns and screams work together perfectly to compliment each other. From the opening track of ‘Sad Ghosts’ the listener is gripped, it has a slow build up, sounding like a horror movie, into a heavy breakdown with the DJ mixes to build to a one two of clean vocals and screaming which just show the listener what to expect. However on this album, always expect the unexpected whether it is a song that is a better pop song than anything Justin Bieber or 1 Direction have ever released, in the form of ‘Mad At Myself’, or the Dance intro to ‘Stingray Affliction’ done by the resident turntablist Scout, which is entitled ‘Old Dena’, leads into the song beautifully. The diamonds in the crown jewels that are this album are the lead singles ‘Stingray Affliction’ and ‘Never Lose Your Flame’. In the two singles, Issues have put forward two of the best songs of the year that within a listen you will have playing in your head all day and have you humming along. Issues, however, have saved a treat to end the album in the form of ‘Disappear [Remember When]’. Tyler Carter’s sugary sweet vocals are breathtaking, hitting notes that will leave you embarrassed when you try and hit them yourself. The biggest surprise is the gospel choir coming in around half way through the song. You cant help but smile and clap along with them. Overall this album is simply incredible, it is the most ambitious thing done in music in recent times, and the band pulls it off flawlessly. This is the bar set for all albums for the rest of the year and I doubt if any will be as incredible as this one, in any genre of music.
By Sam Taylor
