ABANDON ALL SHIPS
Infamous
[Velocity / Rise Records]
Verdict: 8/10
RIYL: Attack Attack!, I See Stars, Dream On Dreamer
The members of AAS may be assholes (this was gathered by personal experience), but their last album was very entertaining to me. I still play it fairly often compared to how little I listen to records I’ve already done coverage on. As a result, I was pretty interested to hear the band’s second full length, Infamous. It’s taken me a while to warm up to, but this new collection does feature some note worthy moments throughout. The main reason it took me some time to be won over by these news songs was due to the how the writing has expanded, or, for lack of a better word, “matured”. In just the last year or so since the band’s debut, AAS have brought more attention to elaborate breakdowns and rhythms, over the heavy party influence found on Geeving. That being said, Infamous shows a more deliberate and focused sound, which can be harder for some fans to swoon over. If you prefer the more crazed and fun sound found on Geeving, then chances are you’re going to have to spin this one several times before falling in love with it also. However, given the time, Infamous certainly features a lot of great moments worthy replaying again and again. The singing appears less often, but is just as smooth and melodic as ever; while the screaming has become deeper and more strained. As a result of this vocal balance, the album feels a bit heavier than the debut, and that’s without going into the hateful and vulgar lyrics. Instrumentally, things feel more or less the same as before, except tightened, and with more breakdowns. Some of the best moments come closer to the end of Infamous, when tracks like “Made of Gold” and “Brothers For Life”. In the end, Infamous comes out as a worthy record for fans of the genre. Personally, I still prefer Geeving, but this collection does feature some awesome parts. – by Nathaniel Lay
>> Classification: Electro Hardcore
>> Recommended Tracks: “Good Old Friend”, “Less Than Love”, “Made of Gold”, “Brothers For Life”
>> In Conclusion: Infamous is a tighter and more mature version of Geeving. It has its highly melodic moments, fueled mostly by its vicious breakdowns.
