A Day To Remember aren’t short of heart and soul. The band from Ocala, Florida, spark another storm with their new record ‘Bad Vibrations’, embarking on creating big riffs and unapologetic lyrics that hit with a stern weight. And leading man Jeremy McKinnon has become such a force in the music industry, utilizing his voice and ways of empowerment.
The band have grown over the years, rising up to the challenge, escaping the tag that reads ‘just another hardcore act’. They’ve proven the doubters wrong, silencing them, turning their heads, making them take note. And with Bad Vibrations, the 5 piece are on the road to fulfilling what they set out to do, become a scene saviour.
The album settles in brilliantly. It’s fast paced and pays homage to the sound that A Day To Remember have structured. It has the balance, that contrasting beat of loud and subtle. Although, there’s more rage than love here.
McKinnon strikes anger into the music. He shouts and bellows his grievances throughout the tracks, emptying his thoughts and declaring war. His rebellious nature is frantic, but with the world the way it is, it’s not strange for a man to lose faith. He has also merged together poetry that ultimately works and fits well with the pulsating guitars and melodies.
The band are truly on form, craving to captivate and to enthral the people that choose to listen. They’re ambassadors of the hardcore scene, naturally evolving on every release. They look at the world in a different way too, with morbid thoughts running through their exceptionally productive minds.
Opening with the loud, harsh title track that batters on with a quivering riff, McKinnon screams and shouts, spitting out his feelings with a dark agony. ‘Reassemble’ is yet another abrasive offering. McKinnon is furious, his lungs bulge, and his voice must ache, but he gets it off his chest. The song slows down for a while, delivering some needed subtlety. ‘We Got This’ showcases a softer side. It still has those infectious guitar strokes, but there’s a happier aura that exudes from it.
The record is dark, there’s no doubt about that. More so than previous efforts. The music comes from souls that need to express themselves; that need to commit to their art to survive. A Day To Remember know how to grind it out as well as look pretty. They’ve been a band for a while, and now they’re about to embark on an arena tour, it’s a revolution.
MARK MCCONVILLE