As I Lay Dying have certainly weathered their fair share of storms, but with the band’s history and the underwhelming nature of their latest album, it's hard to tell how much life the band has left in them. When this album was recorded, only one original member and one long-time member remained, with the rest of the lineup being new faces—and you can feel that shift throughout the record. While there are moments where the essence of As I Lay Dying shines through, much of the album feels like a poor imitation of the greatness they once had. I don’t want to take away from the talent of the new members, as they are all skilled musicians, but something about the music and lyrics just doesn't hit with the same power it once did.
There are a few standouts, like “Burden” and “The Cave We Fear to Enter.” “Burden” has a cohesive feel, with crushing riffs that carry that signature As I Lay Dying weight, and a guitar solo that actually stands out. The drums are heavy, with an energy that fits the song perfectly. “The Cave We Fear to Enter” might be the strongest track on the album, with soaring clean vocals, deep drums, and bold, heavy riffs that create a real sense of power. The riffing on “Whitewashed Tomb” is hypnotic and pulls you in, but outside of those tracks, much of the record feels like standard, by-the-numbers metalcore. Songs like “Strength to Survive” and “Gears That Never Stop” deliver fast, heavy riffs, but they don't carry the same spark as earlier As I Lay Dying material.
The drumming is fast, but it lacks the urgency and precision seen in past albums. While he can still hit hard—like on “Take From Nothing”—at times, like in “We Are the Dead” or “The Void Within,” the drums just feel flat. The bass is mostly buried in the mix, not adding much depth to the songs outside of tracks like “Broken Reflection” and “We Are the Dead.” As for the vocals, they range from solid to forgettable. The guest vocals on “We Are the Dead” blur together, making it difficult to distinguish who's singing what, and the unclean vocals sometimes feel bland. It’s hard to fully embrace lyrics about overcoming adversity and surviving struggles when the lead vocalist has a dark past, which makes it difficult to take the themes seriously.
In the end, this album feels more like an attempt to keep the band afloat than an effort to continue their legacy. It does nothing to elevate the band’s history and, in fact, only makes their older work shine even brighter. It's hard to say how many more storms this "band" can weather in the future—right now, things aren't looking promising.
RATING: 6/10
NOTABLE TRACKS:
Burden
Whitewashed Tomb
The Cave We Fear To Enter