The Word Alive – Empire
September 30th, 2009 by SophieThe Word Alive
Empire
Fearless Records
With a little helping hand from friends The Maine, six piece The Word Alive are Fearless Records’ latest signing from Arizona USA delivering their debut release ‘Empire’. Unlike the rest of their label mates though, this 5 track EP features brutal guitars, intense screaming and a barrage of double base. Tyler ‘Telle’ Smith’s (ex Greeley Estates and In Fear And Faith) high pitched vocals are the one thing typically Fearless about it.
Tyler is the exact breath of fresh air that the band needed. After finding his feet almost instantly and taking the band in a direction he felt best fit, the band have brushed off the BlessTheFall like influence ex front man Craig Mabbitt imprinted on the band previously and have tweaked their own style down to a fine art.
Each song on the EP is as good last – a filler just doesn’t exist. ‘Battle Royale’ opens the cd at full blast setting you up for an intense twenty minutes while ‘Casanova Rodeo’ has been re-recorded to perfection. All in all, this release can only be described as quite simply, perfection.
10/10
Sophie Egboh
