AS IT IS 'I WENT TO HELL AND BACK' - Album Review

 

British pop-punk band As It Is has been through many trials and tribulations since their last album, from being a band of five to now being a band of three, and like many other bands in the scene, the current COVID-19 pandemic putting a halt to everything. But the boys are back and better than ever with their newest and 4th studio album appropriately titled 'I WENT TO HELL AND BACK'. As It Is are never afraid of changing up their sound and this album proves once again that bands can succeed when they give the fans something new! 

No strangers to also having a specific theme or concept behind each album and after the theming of their last album titled 'The Great Depression' which was basically the band trying to bring 'emo' back with vocalist Patty Walters long black hair and dark eyeliner and black and red outfits similar to Gerard Way back in My Chemical Romance's prime, nobody knew what to expect next from them. With the release of their first single titled 'IDGAF' back in May of last year, it was apparent of the direction the band planned to go with on I WENT TO HELL AND BACK. It's almost the perfect mixture of the band's early pop-punk days with the upbeat instrumentals and the darker instrumentals that The Great Depression had. 

This is the first As It Is album that has guitarist Ronnie Ish taking over for beloved former member Benjamin Langford-Biss who parted ways with the band shortly after their last tour to focus on solo work. Ronnie was touring with As It Is on that last tour as an extra guitarist so fans were ecstatic when it was announced he would be a permanent member! With Ronnie being the only guitarist now, he gets to show his talent and he definitely fits in perfectly, almost like he was destined to be a part of this band and album creation! 

Overall, I WENT TO HELL AND BACK is nostalgic, energetic, and for the people who just want Warped Tour to come back! If you have never listened to As It Is but enjoy bands such as Neck Deep or Trash Boat, this is definitely a band for you! Every single album this band puts out gets better and better. Arguably, this might be the best album of their career! No matter the situation, As It Is are amazing at coming back with new and different experiences for all of their albums and I WENT TO HELL AND BACK is no exception. What makes it such a significance is how different it is when compared to the generic pop-punk feel of their debut album 'Never Happy, Ever After', the happy 50's inspired 'Okay', and of course the dark heavy topics of 'The Great Depression'. I WENT TO HELL AND BACK is it is own. It's different but not so different that it deters long-time listeners. It combines a little of everything from the band's past work and puts it into an album that is truly a masterpiece! 

Rating: 4/5

★★★★☆

  

Never Loved 'Over It' - Album Review

 

     Florida alternative rock band Never Loved has finally dropped their long-awaited debut album 'Over It'. Since the release of the band's first EP titled simply, 'Never Loved', and a tour with bands such as Like Pacific, Homesafe, Assuming We Survive and We Were Sharks in 2019, Never Loved began to accumulate a bigger fan following. With that following, came fans eager to see what was next. Over the course of the following year, the band would hint at a song called 'Autumn' which kept fans on their toes as to when they would end up releasing it. With the announcement of their debut album, also came the release of 'Autumn' and we finally got to hear everything the guys have worked so hard on. 

     The first taste fans got of the album was with the release of three singles which included 'Over It', 'Sunshine' and 'On and On It Goes', as well as 'Autumn which was the last single released before the album's debut. All the singles that were released were so different from one another, it was a nice variety of styles that there was something for everyone. 'Over It' is the first single, first track and the title of the album makes it the most important one out of the three as it is the kicker for the rest of the album. As a first single, it was the best choice. If you are an older listener of Never Loved, 'Over It' is exactly what you'd expect, it doesn't stray far from what old fans know and love, but for new fans who have never listened to Never Loved before this album, this first single will definitely catch your attention. The catchy chorus will have you humming "La de da da da da da" to yourself non stop and any song that gets stuck in your head must be a good one! The following singles included 'Sunshine' and 'On and On It Goes'. 'Sunshine' is heavier than the band's past work and it fits them so well! The pre-chorus reminds me of early 2000's rock/alternative music. Once the chorus hits, all you can imagine is screaming and jumping to this song in a pit, and then the bridge hits, and the instruments cut out and then come back into a sick guitar riff. The third single 'On and On It Goes' is a perfect mixture of both previous singles. It starts off with a kind of acoustic vibe and by the time the chorus hits, all the instruments come in, and once again you can scream the lyrics at the top of your lungs. Last but not least, we have 'Autumn'. This song is much different than anything the band has previously released as it's a mainly acoustic song with simple guitar, tambourines, and drums. It's the perfect pace and on the album itself, it comes after a beautiful interlude that transitions perfectly into it. For fans who waited almost 2 years for this song, the wait was definitely worth it. It really helps show how Never Loved can really do any type of song, from a rock song to a heavier song, to an acoustic ballad. There's isn't much this band can't do! 

     The rest of 'Over It' is also outstanding. Not one song is weaker than the others, all the songs flow so seamlessly together, its an album you need to listen to from front to back rather than on shuffle for the full experience. 'Over It' really shows the band's progression as a band and for a band who are newer to the scene, you will be blown away by their talent. The album has such a unique sound to it that it can not really be compared to anything, which says a lot! Never Loved have made an album that is the true definition of alternative rock and they are about to change the game! For a debut album, the time and attention to detail that went into creating 'Over It' shows with every single song. Definitely give this album and band a listen if you are into this genre of music because you will for sure find a song that resonates with you and wouldn't you want to follow a band that is this talented and will just continue to make better and better music as they continue to grow?! 'Over It' by Never Loved gets a 10/10!