The Word Alive Keep It Real On New Album

The Word Alive have always been a very eclectic band. Their music combined metalcore along with post-hardcore and experimental metal. Their first two records had a more experimental sound. On Real, their third album, The Word Alive focus more on metalcore with experimental influences.
This album, unlike their previous records 2010's Deceiver and 2012's Life Cycles don't have as many filler songs. Every song on this record is memorable and good.
From the melodic moments like "Lighthouse" and second single "Broken Circuit" to heavier moments like third single "Glass Castle" and "Your Mirage," the band do it all.
This is mostly done with help from singer Telle Smith. Smith's vocals can go from screams to singing at the drop of a hat and he does so very well.
The album's two best songs are the closers. "To Struggle and Claw My Way" is a heavy song that deals with tackling haters and living life to it's fullest. "Collapsing" is a power ballad that recalls early Brand New, Taking Back Sunday and The Used. This song is gorgeous. Smith's clean vocals are great but his screams are really what steal the show on this track. They sound so emotional and painful and truly convey how broken he feels.
Another highlight is the album's opener and first single "Play the Victim." This song recalls past hits 'The Hounds of Anubis" and "Dragon Spell" off their first and second album's respectively.
Real is a great album and goes to show that The Word Alive are not going anywhere. They can keep growing and making great music.

Taking Back Sunday Mature On Sixth Album

Taking Back Sunday have redeemed themselves on their sixth album Happiness Is. Their fifth album, 2011's self-titled album had a few good moments but very few of the songs were memorable. On new album the band more than make up for that.
The best songs on the album are the first single "Flicker, Fade" and "Better Homes and Gardens." Both deal with breakups but they're mature and adult. The latter has some of the best lyrics that Taking Back Sunday have ever come up with. Both these songs are touching and emotional and leave the listener feeling what front man Adam Lazzara sings.
"You'll never be happy/ But it was all for nothing/ Yeah it was all a waste/ You held on tight and for dear life/ But it was all for nothing," Lazzara sings on the chorus.
Other highlights include "Stood a Chance," "Beat Up Car" and "Like You Do." These are all classic Taking Back Sunday and like the rest of the record, are great.
There truly are no bad songs and I have no negative comments to make about this album. It shows that just because a band gets older, doesn't mean they need to lose their edge. Taking Back Sunday only get better with time and this record shows it.

Punk Goes Pop 5 disappoints

The Punk Goes... Series used to be interesting. With albums like Punk Goes Crunk and Punk Goes Classic Rock peppered in amongst the Punk Goes Pop albums the series was interesting. Now all that comes out is Punk Goes Pops and this album is the worst one yet.While Issues makes Justin Beiber's "Boyfriend" worse...if that was possible and We Came as Romans shitifies The Wanted's "Glad You Came" not all the covers are terrible.
There are only four great songs. Forever the Sickest Kids rocks out "We Found Love" by Rihanna and adds a metalcore style breakdown with unclean vocals. The cover is just as fun as the original. Making this the best song on the album.
Secrets version of "Ass Back Home" by Gym Class Heroes and Neon Hitch is another highlight. The clean vocals on the song are more emotional than Hitch's are on the original. Another highlight is
"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by The Maine and Adam Lazara from Taking Back Sunday. The song is slow and lovely. I'm sure it made Cyndi Lauper proud. The last highlight is Mayday Parade and Vic Fuentes from Pierce The Veil doing "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye and Kimbra. The cover is a rocked out improvement on the original.
Basically bands should just cover songs on their albums and Fearless Records needs to kill this Punk Goes Punk crap.