Pop-punk band As It Is are back, but this time much heavier than before bringing a whole new era to the UK band. The release of As It Is' third studio album "The Great Depression" is a concept album based around mental health, suicide, the stigma surrounding it and how we need to be more open about it. The album features three characters; The Poet, his wife, and Death. The album tells the story of The Poet and his daily struggles with his mental health with appearances of his wife and how his mental health affects her and their relationship, and Death who comes into play as The Poet wonders if ending his life is the best option. The album is split into 4 stages; Denial, Anger, Bargaining, and Acceptance, which are the 4 main stages of grief.
Straying away from the "generic" pop-punk the band is known for, As It Is turn dark lyrics into a more rockier sound. With guest vocals by Aaron Gillespie from Underoath, they are able to achieve an early to mid-2000's "emo" rock sound that still explains the entire concept of the album amazingly. The album is meant to be listened to in order starting with the title track "The Great Depression" and ending with "The End" in order to understand the story of The Poet the best. Every single song transitions beautifully into the next which encapsulates you into the story. Even though the story of The Poet is fictional, the stories behind the lyrics are true. Guitarist Benjamin Langford-Biss said on Twitter about the song The Haunting, " In reality, the story in that song was inspired by a sister who lost her twin brother that I knew to suicide after being the victim of abuse." With 12 tracks and a 44 minute listening time you not only see the evolution of As It Is as a band, you also begin to understand the struggles of The Poet and maybe begin to relate to the lyrics for yourself.
Track by Track Review
The Great Depression:
Opening with the line "Hello consumer" The Poet welcomes you to his story. He explains that we all live in the Great Depression and talks about all the misconceptions about him ending the song with the lyrics "You think you know me." A great introduction to the album with its catchy chorus that will be stuck in your head all day almost telling you to listen to the album again.
The Wounded World:
The first single from the album that gave fans the first taste of this new heavier era for As It Is. The song is about society and how we need to change the world before it falls apart before us. The main message behind the song is that everyone blames everyone else for the problems we encounter every day in the world when in reality, "we're all to blame for the wounded world" and if we don't fix it, we are in for a disaster. Patty Walters (vocalist) had this to say to Kerrang! Magazine about the song; "The Wounded World’‘ is a commentary on the polarised and volatile modern reality, which we’ve allowed. The video depicts a not-so-distant dystopia, where present-day headlines and technologies are displayed in exhibits as the warning signs of an impending disaster. I feel that we as a society have embodied a destructive habit of talking without listening, surrounding ourselves with alternative facts and headlines, totally void of open-mindedness or empathy. Despite the labels and beliefs that all too often divide us, we are one people, and we’re all to blame."
The Fire, The Dark:
The third single released it is one of the more pop-punkier songs on the album this song is what others assumed the whole album would sound like but were pleasantly surprised when the album was not what they expected at all. This is where our main character The Poet introduces us to his wife. The song explains the love that is possibly coming to an end between the two and even though it is not officially over for the couple yet, it shows the pain The Poet is going through at points blaming himself for the relationship becoming rocky and The Poet knowing the end was near. The Fire, The Dark also concludes the first stage...Denial.
The Stigma (Boys Don't Cry):
The second single off the album, the song is about just what the title states. Toxic masculinity and the version of males society has against them. Males are not supposed to show emotion and to keep everything bottled up or they are told to 'man up'. The song also demonstrates that no matter your gender everyone should be treated the same. The song is also a rally to fight these stereotypes and to explain to society that its okay to show your feelings and that gender should not affect that.
The Handwritten Letter:
The Handwritten Letter is about just that, its a handwritten letter The Poet is writing to his wife. He's writing her to tell her that she is the only thing keeping him alive, figuratively and literally. It's a love song with sadder meaning. It is also in reference to the previous track "The Stigma" because The Poet is showing his emotions which "The Stigma" says is not right. The song also features something special around the bridge. If you listen closely you'll hear audio clips that fans of As It Is gave to the band talking about how the band changed their lives, what this album means to them and a few more smaller details you need to definitely listen for!
The Question, The Answer:
This song is the first slow song on the album. The Poet is asking himself how the relationship between him and his wife will end. He wonders if he'll be able to live after the breakup. The question is not knowing what will happen after everything comes to an end. He (The Poet) starts wondering if he will have a future after the relationship stops. With that, this concludes stage two...Anger
The Reaper:
We are now introduced to the final main character, Death. Bringing the pace back up after a slower song, The Reaper blares through the speakers. This is where The Poet really begins to question ending his life. As he stares Death in the eyes he realizes this may not be the best idea as Death has been waiting to show him to his grave for a while now. What The Poet sees when he sees Death is different then what he imagines in his dreams, kind of scaring him a little bit he begins to wonder if death is the final option. The Poet is faced with all the mistakes he's made in his life. As we reach the second verse of the song, The Poet says that Death has given him a choice to either live or to die as The Poet decides that it's not his time and he chooses to hold on a little longer.
The Two Tongues (Screaming Salvation):
The Poet faces another dilemma. Does he stay with his wife or does he give in to the release of death? He is having a hard time deciding because he hears both his wife and Death saying why he should go with the other. He hears his wife's soft voice but hears Death screaming at him from the depths of hell. What does he choose in the end?
The Truth I'll Never Tell:
This is another song on As It Is album that brings back the classic pop-punk vibe with not as heavy guitars and reminds me a bit of "Austen" from the band's second album 'Okay'. In this song, The Poet does not want to open up about his feelings to his wife, once again in reference to "The Stigma" where men are not supposed to be emotional. The truth that is not being told is how his mental health is affecting him because he does not want to bring his wife down. He is so concerned that his wife will not understand his problems so to avoid that he just will not tell her as he thinks this is the better option. This is a song a lot of people can relate to lyric wise. Everyone has had a moment in their life where they did not want to tell the person they cared about the most what they are dealing with as to not hurt them which is why this song can resonate with a lot of listeners. This concludes stage three...Bargaining
The Haunting:
The transition into this song is something else! With a catchy chorus once again this song will be stuck in a lot of people's heads. This may be one of the more heavier songs lyric wise as this song focuses on suicide. Simple lyrics that convey an extremely deep message. Death sounded like a much better option and their life is now lost. The part of the song that really impacts you is in the bridge when As It Is guitarist Ben Biss pleads with the subject if this song asking them if they would rethink their decision if they understood how them taking their life would impact those around them, in this case, the sister of the song's subject. This is a song that will resonate with fans with its simple but emotional message and lyrics.
The Hurt, The Hope:
The song begins with The Poet talking about how everyone wants to feel the release and wants to be at peace with themselves again and how he finds it difficult. He contemplates suicide as his release (The Hurt) but as the song reaches the bridge The Poet is determined for everything to get better. He thinks he may be wrong but he hopes he's right (The Hope). The song ends with The Poet repeating that it has got to get better in hopes that if he says it continuously, it will actually get better.
The End:
As It Is close out the album saying that you just heard The Poet's words and did not feel his hurt as "nobody's listening" and only care about the music. The Poet does not want others to feel and experience what he is/was going through. The Poet says he can not take living anymore as he has tried endlessly to plea for help but to no avail so he eludes to suicide as he thinks that is his final option. The final line of the bridge"you fucking tell me to make this choice" is open for interpretation since the album has no firm conclusion in how the story of The Poet ends, it is up to the listeners to decide if The Poet took his own life or is still suffering. The outro repeats "this is the end" but since it does not explain what it is the end of it is up for each person who listens to the album to decide for themselves. The Poet's story remains unfinished much like people's battles with mental illness. And with that, concludes the fourth and final stage... Acceptance.
Overall, The Great Depression is an album the world needs right now as its message about mental illness is very important and if this album can help at least 1 person out there, then As It Is have done their jobs!
To listen to the album yourself, it is available on all streaming services, YouTube, iTunes, and Google Play! You will not be disappointed.
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