One of the few more commercially minded bands I am a fan of. They continue to hit the right spot of enough heft to feel metal while blending pop vocals with these weighty grooves. Since they hit the scene the competition is more apparent with bands like Spirit Box and Jinjer gaining more recognition. The groove to the title track proves they can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those bands.Ash Costello's voice has more piercing power. She can carry enough guts with her voice, to not be forced to resort to screaming. This helps the song avoid what has become a formula that is beginning to wear thin.
Speaking of formula "Hurt's Like Hell" is not the band's most inspired song, despite being on of the album's lead singles. It just sounds like a generic wrestling entrance song. The big anthemic chorus to "Secrets' works better as the verses break down and allow her to show different shades of her voice rather than just having to belt it out at 11 the entire song. "Fearless" is a little more radio-minded, but the big rock hook pays off and the song clicks together. The same could be said and perhaps to a greater extent with "Bulletproof" as the hooks in this song are as finely crafted as any pop hit.
"Burn it All Down" feels more like a pop song that got turned into a hard rock song. I appreciate the nuance, and dynamic ebb and flow, but do not feel it's as airtight as the previous song. "Enemy" is pretty middle-of-the-road when it comes to intentionally epic modern rock songs. Even if it means not going as hard for the sake of songwriting I think "I Still Believe' is a better song, allowing a greater range of dynamics. It should be said that this album is immaculate when it comes to production, the attention given to the vocals is top-notch. I was looking forward to "Unbreak My Heart" as I assumed it was a cover of the Toni Braxton song, but that is not the case. It is however a decent song in its own right. "So Sick" has a darker groove, which is what I want from this band, and thinking back over this album it could be a little darker. The last song also works well in blending the pop end of their spectrum with the more edgy guitar sound. I will give this album a 9, as it might not be their best, but it is a well-produced and executed exercise in refining what they do best.
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