British pop punk band As It Is released their sophomore album Okay under Fearless Records on January 20^th. Since its release, I’ve probably listened to this album on repeat every day since, and that’s not even an exaggeration. Sticking true to their pop punk roots with an emphasis on the “pop”, the band decided to make their follow up to their 2015 debut album, Never Happy, Ever After, a sort of concept album. A lot of the tracks follow the theme of “It’s okay to not be okay,” which is something I can get behind.

Many of the tracks on this album mention focus on loss, mental health, heartbreak, and regret. The cover art and the promotional art have a 50s theme with a twist. It’s so fitting because the art has this happy-go-lucky feel, with bright colors, smiling families, and everything seems peachy. But if you look closer you can see the darker elements. The carefree girl going for a bike ride with a huge bomb in her basket, the happy dad and smiling child playing catch with a grenade, etc. It perfectly depicts the band’s message of “things are not always as they seem”.

The album kicks off with the track “Pretty Little Distance”, which I feel was the perfect choice to set the tone of the whole album. The track is poppy, upbeat and totally catchy, you’ll be singing this for hours after you first hear it. It has this quirky 50s-type feel and it focuses on how from a distance, things look great but it’s not always the case. In the first verse, you hear the lines “I stretch the truths till they lose shape. As Support beams bend and break. Watch reality’s slow cascade (But that’s alright).” The music video pairs nicely, looking like a scene from Grease with girls in flowing, poodle skirts and guys with slicked-back do’s. It was definitely the right choice as the band’s first single.

The title track “Okay” is one of my most played tracks on the album. It perfectly captures that all-too familiar feeling of knowing that you’re going through a rough time and things are kind of bad, and you just don’t quite know how to fake a smile and say “Oh yeah sure, I’m okay!” It’s something that almost everyone has dealt with in their life. This feeling of hopelessness and the reality of what it’s like to deal with mental illness and how everyone around you says “It’ll be fine” but you know the truth. The line that really stuck out to me was “so keep your ‘it’ll get betters’ and I’ll keep my ‘I’ll be just fine’s’. I’ll show you flashes of colors and hide behind my bouquet of lies.” That hit me deep in my soul.

Another standout track is “Hey Rachel”, the track dedicated to front man Patty Walter’s sister. The video was so touching and heartfelt, It made me feel bad for being a shitty brother and I don’t even know Rachel – nor am I anyone’s brother. The track is Walter’s way of apologizing to his younger sister for not being there for her when they were growing up and not paying attention to what she was going through. It’s incredibly heartfelt and the music video shows clips of home videos and gives you a nice little glimpse into his home life.

Other tracks that I absolutely adore are “The Coast Is Where Home Is,” a track about distance and remembering where you came from. It makes feel nostalgic and sentimental about a place I’m not even from (because let’s face it – I’m not the least bit sentimental about my actual hometown). “Still Remembering” is a heartbreaking ballad about saying goodbye to the love that you once held with your old flame and trying to figure out how to move on. The perfect way to wind-down and end the album. Another track I love is “Until I Return”. This is another track that gets stuck in my head, It’s so catchy and it just gets me in my feelings. The opening verse is “You can’t keep me sane when I’m out of sight. I still lose my way from time to time. You can’t keep me sane when I’m out of sight, I promise I’ll fight, but I can’t promise that I’ll be fine.” The song is about having that person that helps bring you out of that depressive slump and that even though you might be 100% fine all the time, you’re still fighting your ass off to make it.

If you haven’t picked up this album, I highly recommend it. It’s been my go-to album for weeks now, it’s got something for everyone to enjoy. While it’s a huge difference from their debut album considering how pop the sound is, it’s still the same As It Is that we know and love. Plus, I’m a huge advocate for mental health and I love the message behind the album and the fact that they’re using their platform to draw attention to the subject and t lessen the stigma makes me extremely happy. Catch them on their first headlining North American tour. You can purchase tickets here.

Here are the dates:

Get "Okay" On iTunes and in stores now.

Ice Nine Kills have a knack for combining my two favorite things: horror movies and music. I’ve mentioned them numerous times on my blog, as well as their current album Every Trick in the Book. I recently got the pleasure of seeing them during the Alternative Press “Hell in the Hallways” tour at Greene Street in NC and as always, it was a treat. The track “Hell in the Hallways” was inspired by the Stephen King novel Carrie, a personal favorite of mine so I was more than stoked for this “Bates High Senior Prom” themed tour.

The place was decked out in streamers and balloons, with Bates High signs and a canvas for guests to take prom photos. Fans were encouraged to dress up in suits and dresses for the chance to be crowned prom king and queen on each night of the tour. I was thrilled to see others dressed up with ghoulish makeup and blood splashed all over the place. Of course, I took this opportunity to get gory and break out my favorite Killstar dress (I even managed to be one of the nominees for prom queen).

Needless to say, this was way more fun than my own high school prom. My prom definitely didn’t have any attendees covered in blood or Ice Nine Kills so this definitely beats our “Caribbean Nights” senior prom. #SorryNotSorry.

The opening acts, Secrets, Out Came the Wolves, Sylar, and a local band named Exiled, kicked off the show for us. Out of the four, I had only previously seen Out Came the Wolves so I loved discovering new groups and finding even more music to fall in love with. I’m also personally a fan of the fact that they always bring out local talent to open because it allows you to see what your local music scene has to offer.

My boys in Ice Nine Kills delivered one hell of a show. Kicking things off with the score from the movie Dead Silence was a nice touch. As a horror fan, I appreciate these little touches. It helped set the perfect atmosphere. They played through a ton of my favorite tracks like: “Bloodbath and Beyond,” “Me, Myself & Hyde,” “Communion of the Cursed,” “What I Never Learned in Study Hall,” and of course the track that inspired the entire tour.

Before that night, I had never had to come home and scrub off fake blood after a show. Unlike the guests at Carrie White’s prom, we all left the show in one piece dying to come back for more. This marks the third time that I’ve seen Ice Nine Kills live and I for one, cannot wait to make it a fourth.

You can catch Ice Nine Kills on the road now, and keep an eye out for Hell in the Hallways Tour pt. 2. Dates and tickets here.

Now enjoy some pictures from show:

Since their arrival onto the music scene in 2013, I Prevail finally released their full-length debut album titled Lifelines.  The Detroit based quartet is made up of, Brian Burkheiser (clean vocals), Eric Vanlerberghe (harsh vocals), Steve Menoian (guitar), and Lee Runestad (drums). Lifelines was released under Fearless Records, who snatched them up in early 2015, making them label-mates with heavy hitters such as Pierce The Veil, Mayday Parade, The Word Alive and more.

Though this the band’s first full-length album, they’re certainly no strangers to the scene. The band’s 2014 EP Heart Vs. Mind sold over 600,000 copies worldwide. After being featured on Fearless’s Punk Goes Pop vol. 6 with their cover of Taylor Swift’s Blank Space, they gained huge notoriety. The single sold over 300,000 copies and 22 Million plus views on YouTube, topping charts everywhere.

Lifelines is a delicious mix of rock, electronic elements, and melodies that send the listener on a new journey every time they hit “play”. Brian’s smooth vocals laced with the ferocity of Eric’s, create a unique sound that’s infectious. Whether you’re a fan of songs that are more soothing and subtle, or ones that pack a heavy punch, there’s something on the album for everyone.

Now onto my personal favorites from the album.

“Stuck In Your Head” – So, the title of this track is incredibly fitting. This track was the second single from the album, a perfect choice in my opinion. Something this band does right is creating catchy hooks that ultimately do get “stuck in your head”. It touches on a feeling that a lot of people can relate to, which is when a relationship hits a dead-end and it’s time to call it quits.

“Scars” – This was the first single from the album and rightfully so. It’s the first track on the album and it completely sets the tone of the album. Inspired by the band’s personal experiences with being away from family and dying relationships, resulting in feelings of depression and anxiety, the song is one of the more personal on the album. While it’s related to the band’s experiences, it’s still relatable.

“Come and Get It” – As soon as I heard the opening riff, I was hooked. The driving force behind the guitar, and heavy groove, come together to create this infectious track. To me, this track is their way of saying “We’re going to be all you talk about for a while so get ready because we’re not stopping any time soon.”

"Outcasts” – This track feels like it was written especially for the fans. The lyrics are powerful, charged and it’s like one big middle finger up to everyone that’s ever doubted you, judged you and every feeling of worthlessness. It’s full of self-acceptance and an unapologetic attitude for being yourself. My favorite line is, “We were never what you wanted us to be
A generation built from underneath.”

“My Heart I Surrender” – One of the softer tracks on the album, this track is about uncertain love and the worry that what you’re feeling is unrequited. Almost everyone can relate to feeling like the one you love doesn’t feel the same but still holding to that silver of hope. Emotionally-charged lyrics combined with soothing riffs creates a hypnotic sound. It’s probably my over-all favorite track.

Lifelines is available now, online on iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon MP3 and in stores at Target, Best Buy, FYE and HMV. If you want a preview of what you’ll be getting, check out I Prevail’s album stream on YouTube. You can also catch I Prevail on the road right now, you can find dates and tickets here.

Till next time,

Back in March, Tonight Alive graced NC with their presence during their co-headlining Fight For Something Tour alongside Set It Off. The Ready Set and SayWeCanFly were on the bill as well, hitting the stage first to deliver some sweet, pop punk goodness to kick off the night. Hearing Love Like Woe live was a Myspace lover’s dream come true.

Tonight Alive were also celebrating the release of their latest album Limitless. For their third release, Tonight Alive decided to set fire to their older sound and take their music to the next level. Limitless features a more melodic sound and electric feel, with remnants of 90’s pop thrown in to create an entirely new listening experience for TA fans. One thing that the songs on their album do best is showcase just how big of a powerhouse front-woman Jenna McDougall is. The emotion and power behind her vocals are evident in every single song and getting to witness that in person is an experience in itself. But, even with a new sound, the album still delivers the same Tonight Alive we’ve all come to know and love.

Favorites of the night were definitely How Does it Feel, Drive, Wasting Away, and Human Interaction. During their set the band decided to change it up and do a short acoustic set, stripping down older favorites for a more intimate feel. Breaking & Entering, one of the band’s heavier songs from their album What Are You So Scared Of?, is a song that packs a punch in its own way and it’s just as strong, if not more so, when done acoustic. Amelia, another from the same album was also featured in their acoustic set. This song was written in remembrance of one of Jenna’s childhood friends that passed, something that myself and many others can relate to. It’s even more beautiful performed live, especially when stripped down. Finally, the band closed with Lonely Girl, and the place went ballistic.

Here are few pictures from the night:

Limitless is available now in stores and on iTunes. See Tonight Alive during Vans Warped Tour this summer!

On March 13^th I had the pleasure of attending The Word Alive’s NC show during their Dark Matter Tour.

Alongside The Word Alive were: HerEcho, A Boy Named Sue, Out Came the Wolves, and Fit For a King. One of my favorite things about these shows is how headlining bands will reach out to local talent to come out and be a part of the show. I’ve discovered so many amazing local bands through shows like this.

The show itself was incredible. Seeing The Word Alive perform old favorites like Life Cycles is an experience in itself, the crowd thrashing around and screaming the lyrics back at the band and feeding off of one another’s energy is amazing. The real treat was getting to experience the songs off TWA’s newest album Dark Matter days before it released.

Dark Matter is out now on iTunes and in stores. The album is bigger and bolder than those that came before it. TWA did an amazing job at re-vamping their sound to create something that was unique and different, but still had the charm that fans already knew and loved. Matt Good (of From First to Last) produced the album which is one of my favorite aspects of the album as someone who has loved Matt’s work for years. There’s something on album for everyone, from the heavy hitters to the soft spoken tracks.

A personal favorite of mine from the album is Grunge- this is one of the songs I got to preview during their show.

For those that missed out on The Word Alive during their Dark Matter tour, you’ll get the chance to see them all summer during the Vans Warped Tour! In the meantime, treat yourself to Dark Matter on iTunes.

Here’s a few shots from the show: 

Oh you know, just casually hanging with Tyler Smith *hair flip*

I recently attended the Ice Nine Kills show in NC and it was amazing.

Ice Nine Kills just wrapped up their The Chapter and Curse tour. The tour featured More to Monroe, Come to Rest, and Affiance. North Carolina natives, Headfirst for Halos joined them during their NC show.

INK’s set features songs from their newest album Every Chapter in the Book, which features songs inspired by various novels like: Carrie, Go Ask Alice, The Diary of Anne Frank, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and more.

Check out their video for Communion of the Cursed:

You can catch Ice Nine Kills on these dates on their next upcoming tour:

 

Mar 10- New Albany Production House -New Albany, IN

Mar 11-Subterranean -Chicago, IL

Mar 12-Amsterdam Bar & Hall -St Paul, MN

Mar 14- Fubar -Saint Louis, MO

Mar 17-Walter's -Houston, TX

Mar 18-The Rail Club -Fort Worth, TX

Mar 21 -BackBooth -Orlando, FL

Mar 22-Jack Rabbits -Jacksonville, FL

Mar 24-Shakas Live -Virginia Beach, VA

Mar 25-Ottobar -Baltimore, MD

Mar 26-Upstairs  Palladium -Worcester, MA

Mar 28-The Studio at Webster Hall -New York, NY

Mar 29-Voltage Lounge -Philadelphia, PA

Mar 30-Montage Music Hall -Rochester, NY           

Mar 31-Altar Bar -Pittsburgh, PA

Apr 01-Park Street Saloon -Columbus, OH

Apr 23-Chameleon Club -Lancaster, PA

While you’re at it, pick up Every Trick in the Book to get yourself ready.

Now enjoy these pictures from the show:

Oh, and I met Spencer after the show. #Blessed.