Review: Awaken At Last- The Change
A band’s debut album is more important than a lot of people realize. Not only does it set the stage for the rest of their career, but it’s the telling point for whether fans will want to come to the shows and, if a band doesn’t have a strong debut record, there’s zero chance fans will take any interest in the next one.
So, when Awake At Last’s debut full-length- The Change releases, fans will have a lot to sink their teeth into and fall in love with.
Imagine the instrumental style of Dead By April and Ice Nine Kills with the vocals of Three Days Grace’ Matt Walst and you have Awake At Last.
“Rebirth” is one hell of an intro, featuring a very theatrical feeling that leads into the heavy and cinematic “Welcome to Life.” Mix that in with the industrial, catchy and fast-paced “More Than Animals” and the electronic “My Enemy” and “Bigger Picture” and the album gets off to a strong start.
They also offer up traditional heavy rock songs in “Dead Generation” and “Unobtainable” as well as the slower, honest ballad, “Let Go,” which many will be able to relate to. Their big single, “The Change” comes next, featuring Ice Nine Kills singer Spencer Charnas and starts off with a marching cadence and synth intro. This song is an epic and a perfect style for Charnas to guest on.
One of the many standout tracks- “Paralyzed,” features dark, haunting and creepy instrumentals before “Still Breathing” builds things up to open the door for the “Fallen Stars,” the closer to finish things off in a heavy way. With lyrics like “burn an image on the canvas of our lives,” Awake At Last make sure you’ll remember them when this album is finished.
Rating: 8/10
-Reggie Edwards