Customer Reviews

Hell Or High Water

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I came across As Cities Burn's debut a few years back, my ears were bled dry by the heart-wrenching lyrics, screaming vocals, and melodic dissonance. I moaned when I heard they were breaking up. Then, in response to clamoring fans, they put out a second CD, a haunting and artistic piece that seemed to lose some along the way. This is one of those bands that sometimes seems too diverse, too talented, for their audience.

With "Hell or High Water," ACB refuses to be pigeonholed, once again delivering an eclectic mix of songs that feels more cohesive than the last album, while pushing out more gut-twisting, spiritually challenging lyrics. There are parts that remind me of everything from Kings of Leon, Thrice, the Killers, and others, but never sound derivative. There are bluesy tidbits. Some hard driving moments. These are songs that deserve to be played more than once to be fully appreciated.

In "Pirate Blues" we get a glimpse at ACB's longing to communicate something passionate: "Oh, I wanna catch in a song, notes I don't hear yet. But I will when I'm gone."

On this album, they come awfully close to catching notes we don't often hear--notes of sorrow, desire, honesty, truth, and unrelenting love.

I really got into "As Cities Burn" when I saw them live with "Emery" last year. They ripped my face off!! I had heard a few songs before on the radio and they sounded even better live. Their last album "Come Now Sleep" was made after a lead singer change and their sound calmed down a little with a bit more singing to screaming ratio. Some complained about it, but I really enjoyed hearing more vocals with the screaming added. That album blew me away with deep lyrics and guitar work that (as a guitarist myself) was rediculous!! This album is even better!! They have evolved to such a creative sound on this album. They still remain true to their style of thought provoking lyrics matched with melancholy chords and beats that create an emotional experience. The beats go from mellow to progressive and back again filled with some sick guitar work matched with killer effects. They have one of the most unique sounds out there with several styles blended together on this album. They are not the typical christian emo/screamo band. They have more of a cynical yet honest approach when talking about faith and those who follow and focus on realities and struggles that often go ignored. Their music is inspiring and their sound unmatched by any band! If you like creative emotional music that goes beyond the shallow, dull, repetitive norm you should definately get this album!!!!!

Stripped away is most of the screaming and yelling. "As Cities Burn" has changed and evolved into melodic, progressive, and emo rock. You can compare this ACB to similar bands like Brand New or Thrice, but they've become distinctly different. I find catchy and intriguing beats propelling most of the songs forward and other interesting voices in the background. Here's some advice: listen to the whole album entirely, straight through and repeat. All the songs are woven together like a coherent story. The song lyrics are subtly filled with Christian themes and ideas of humanity being made too self-centered and perfect (Too Pretty). Lyrics express a tired worn out boy that is still recoiling from a past relationship that keeps on haunting him (Lady Blue, Pirate Blues). The general mood is rather tired, gloomy, but then crescendos to an awesome beat with electric guitars and a booming bass. Vocals are sometimes soft and turn into aching cries. And be sure go get "Gates" the extra that is only online (I found it online and pirated it hehe). For any Christian or non-Christian, this is a great album to have, for ACB newbies and for long-term fans. I haven't liked an album this way since Anberlin's "Cities."

My favorites are: Made Too Pretty, Lady Blue, Petty, Capo, Pirate Blues

Like the title says, this album never gets old. Shows an awesome progression for ACB from Post Hardcore/Screamo to Post rock/progressive with traces of post hardcore origins in it. I just never get tired of it.

This is my 3rd time reviewing each song. I've done this for every ACB album because I found how good they really were. This is their last cd which is sad but they made it a good one. So here goes the review:

1.'84 Sheepdog - I guess this song is about how some people believe that Christianity is trying to brain wash kids so they behave. I've noticed it in another song by them. They really make it clear that there is a God who loves you anyways
2.Errand Rum - Has a good beat and good lyrics
3.Into the Sea - Has good lyrics to it, and a cool chorus
4.Made Too Pretty - Awesome softer mellow song, reminds me of their first album
5.Lady Blue - A really cool vocal acoustic song
6.Petty - Cool lyrics and beat to it
7.Daughter - Another soft and mellow song with great instrumental beats
8.Pirate Blues - Probably my favorite song on this album. Awesome lyrics and good beat.
9.Capo - Cool song and good finish to their last album.

So this is my final review on these albums. They are all great albums and I would recommend them to anyone. I was weary about getting them because I thought they were too hardcore, and I admit Son, I loved you at Your Darkest is hardcore, but it fits with the theme. They all fit their theme very well and this is a great band!

Hell or high water is As Cities Burn's third full-length album and second with guitarist Cody Bonnette fronting the group. The album follows a similar path as their previous disc, Come Now Sleep. Most, if not all, heavier stylings once used by the group have dissipated and have made way for an emotionally charged, melodic, and mostly energetic sound, of which CNS laid the groundwork. This is the groups last disc as they broke up fairly shortly after it's release.

The album starts off with the sound of a gritty synth (I believe),and a pounding drum beat. Cody giving us a taste of what lies ahead lyrically before the guitars really kick in, showing you how far this band really has come in such a short amount of time. High in energy, wearing their emotions on their sleeves. Unafraid of judgement or the criticism of others. This is a stronger group then we have previously heard.

The album really does build on the sound that CNS began, adding a few surprises here and there, such as (to my great excitement) 2 tracks featuring back-up vocals from Cody's brother and former ACB vocalist TJ Bonnette. In addition to this, I feel the song structures and lyrics are much more centered and balanced than CNS. Every song has it's own great moments and pieces. As a whole there really isn't a song on the album that I find unlistenable, where as (in my opinion) the two previous albums did have songs that, while not awful, just didn't fully come to fruition for me. It most likely helps that the album is only 9 or 10 songs depending on the version.

The guitar work is where I have noticed the most improvement. Great tone. Sometimes gritty and energetic, sometimes soft and beautiful. Even a touch of blues riffing at times. A very diverse and well organized effort. I won't touch on the lyrics as they deal mostly with faith (as usual with ACB) and me having no connection in that way, I feel I cannot judge them fairly. Nothing that really makes me shudder though.

Overall I believe that this is a well-paced, well-written album that deserves to be heard. I would recommend this to any fan of ACB's previous albums, any fan of honest, well-written rock, or anyone looking for some good melodic music that wears it's emotions well without becoming preachy or whiney.

I wonder if this is "rockcore",but I still like it nonetheless. this is a spiritually uplifting slab of music. while not metalcore, it is still worth a listen. it sounds melodic, but still it is rock. this reminds me of Flee The Seen which is or was on Facedown Records. a worthwhile album for your collection.

Their third and last album before disbanding this past year doesn't do As Cities Burn justice. 'High Or Hell Water' lacks everything their first two albums did, which is an odd statement seeing as how they were nearly polar opposites. While 2005's 'Son, I Loved You At Your Darkest' was an aggressive group of hardcore/noise-rock songs, 2007's 'Come Now Sleep' was a, well, sleepy collection of beautifully crafted indie-rock songs. It seemed as though the band was destined to only get better with time, but 'Hell Or High Water' disproves this theory, with a sound that attempts to straddle the line between both of their previous records without much passion or integrity. The songwriting is weak, letting one realize pretty quickly why the band called it quits.