| Released | October 8, 2013 |
|---|---|
| Recorded | May 14, 2012 – March 18, 2013, Jeremy McKinnon's home studio, Ocala, Florida |
| Genre | Metalcore,[1] pop punk[2][3] |
| Length | 53:11 |
| Label | Self-released |
| Producer | Jeremy McKinnon, Andrew Wade,Chad Gilber Rating  |
Judging from previous albums, the band had a lot to uphold with the huge success from "What Separates Me from You" and "Homesick " the band have to now explore new themes as well as revisit old ones, for their fans to have a whole new experiences on this brand new album. Working on it for a while now, ADTR fans have been lucky enough to hear two odd songs from the album, which got released a couple of months before, also plaid for the first time live at gigs. "Violence" was one of songs which already created a huge popularity among existing and new fans, this was also played for the first time Live at a special gig in Camden at the KoKo, which I had attended to. Hearing the song live as well as on record, I knew that this album had a lot more from where that came from, making me even more exited for its release.
Common Courtesy steps aside from the bands usual self and mixes it up a bit, as we have a hybrid of mixed genres already happening in each song. But for ADTR, they have taken into account of good consideration of what the fans want and added two, beautifully composed acoustic songs "I'm already gone" and "I Surrender". This then juxtaposes with their harder hitting songs, causing a clash with the new post-hardcore vibe they are sending with "Violence (Enough Is Enough)" and "Dead and Buried." As well as having these two opposing genres, the pure pop punk and vibrant rock sound of ADTR is still presented throughout the album, giving it such a fresh and diverse sounding as whole, the way in which it is structured links altogether, making it one of their strongest by far. This is also the reason I am in love with it so much and honestly can not get enough of it, as it is more than just a one genre band, but something which is suited for almost every mood.
Now what do you guys actually think of the songs involved?
Starting the album off with a song close to home called "
Cityof Ocala"already takes you to their hometown and what they are about, with its fast paced drum beats, keeping the bouncing beat in your heart alive, creating a resistance to feel yourself jump up and down. The song is basically about where the band came from and previous memories in which they have shared there, recalling from the past to the present, presenting their journye as a band and how far they have progressed, without forgetting where they came from. The upbeat, punkness to the song reminds us of their older work from previous albums, perfectly accompanying the heavy guitar riffs, with the right softness, yet the edge of Jeremy's voice to tone the song in perfect shape. The breakdown then recalls a nostalgic feel, with the echoing sounds of "I'm right back it again" before ending in a worn out, extended guitar note.
Following this metalcore theme, "Dead and Buried" tackles this perfectly, by going right in for the weighted hardcore intro tempo of twos repeating over and over until this then returns to the 4/4 beat of the chorus, mixing its genre slightly with McKinnon's clean vocals ending in a scream, switching back to this heavy beat curving the songs journey with mixed emotions and aggression, again using the bridge for a hardcore breakdown making room for a moshpit to explode before it reaches it ultimate peak of the song ending in the same way it started.
Keeping this uplifting pressure, the band take on the basic pop punk themes, also lyrically taking a more slower but still energetic, anger response whilst it hits the chorus at full power. Tackling similar problems in which the pop punk genre sing about, ADTR have slightly adapted this to their song, making it their own and typical of them, producing fans to agree heavily with what they have done.
Again using repetitive lyrics, sticking in your head, you will find yourself shouting them back out your mouth right at the computer screen as you sing along unconsciously.
Completely changing the troposphere of the previous five songs, we are now presented with an acoustic. "I'm already gone" proves to be my favorite song off the album easily as it is the most emotional and heart warming. Starting off with the soft strums of the acoustic guitar, sending you into a dream trances of your past, the song really takes you back to your own personal, sad memories. Jeremy's voice hits the song 20 seconds in, making your ears twinkle with his beautiful harmonic tone, sending them therapy as it revives your mind. The chorus is the part which really gets you, first time listening to it, it got me almost shredding a tear, as lyrically it has a lot of meaning and negative connotations, making you question your own personal experiences, bring up bad or pleasant memories along. I can relate to a lot of what is being sung in this song, as it describes a current, easy, relatable mindset in which all teenagers who listen to the band will understand. The pure soft vocals, harmonies perfectly at peak points in the song, highlighting the stresses of these words, yet beautifully following along the basic acoustic beat of the guitars. Conducting such a beautiful, yet heartbreaking song is hard to do, and easy to get wrong, but ADTR have had no struggles in doing this as they have produced something far beyond normal talent. The stern structure of the bridge, pushes you in finding your willpower and remembrance of why things have changed and for the best, keeping you back on your feet, reminding you that everything's alright. Towards the end of the song you will find yourself more at ease, in a cheerful, happier mood, ending on a good note. Allowing you to travel on a short journey of memory lane in just one song, bringing up certain emotions and dreadful memories but then picking you back up and putting you in your current mind set is monumental. The composure and thought gone into this song, is honestly so deep that it brings a whole new journey to the album.
Smacking you out of this mood completely comes with "Violence (Enough Is Enough)" , as the next song shows the progress in ADTR's new metalcore, hardcore stage, proving to be the heaviest song in the whole album. Gradually getting you ready for this whole new level, it hits you right in the face, attacking you directly with its long intro but also hardcore vocals from Jeremy screaming "VIOLENCE, GIVE ME VIOLENCE".
Inside you will find yourself exploding in a full arm-swinging, mosh-pit mood, moving the fuck around the existing space you have causing havoc. The song definitely will get the crowd going at a full rampage, connecting with the anger management music, causing violence. All the way through the song right till the bridge the song upholds its metalcore theme, proving true to its original state at the middle song in the album, this is where all the tension is stressed.
Linked with the two stepping beat "Life @ 11" flows with this with a twist in guitar rhythm and vocals. We are now returned to the pop-punkness of the bands tune, yet still upholding the urge to move around and scream the lyrics right back, the song gives us a soft break from what the album so far has produced yet still allowing time for us to get right into the song. The clean, instrumental bridge makes room for all of this to happen, before Jeremy reminds us of its intentions to get us clapping along its catchy beat, ending in a neutral state.
Before ending off with a total head banging breakdown, the band takes us back to a brief acoustic of "I Surrender." However this one proves to me more focused on keeping the high spirits alive rather than deep emotional meaning. More quirky mixes of the acoustic guitar are intertwined with another electric feel, bringing the high pitched vocals and drums back into the song, changing its settings slightly. The song may start of to be sweat, but it carry's through, picking up new elements while still keeping the sweet vibe alive, ADTR put a twist on this, making i more upbeat and lively for their fans to bounce to. Gradually building up tension along the bridge right into the main chorus-ending of the song.
Which takes us into the next song, setting us up for a heavy pace already with the tension in the drums and static guitar noise, before Jeremy comes in with a full front of heavy vocals, producing another heavy hardcore song to tilt the album. The song it's self is short in length with just enough volume go get us into relaxed state for "End of me" which builds up its tension once again. Starting off with the soft strums of the acoustic guitar, playing its sweet, repetitive melody over and over again the song tricks us into what it is about. The soft slow, vocals of Jeremy are submerged into the song, with the build up of layers, taking us into a much heavier, but kept to the same pace of the original opening, rather than giving it a completely change.
Taking you in a dream like trance, the song gives you an opportunity to put your hands up and sway from side to side, along with it's beat, reflecting your thoughts to the song and focus on Jeremy. Here is another song where you feel yourself reflecting on yourself and the past, it makes you think a little, as "I'm already gone" had, this song does it in a similar way, taking your dopamine levels down a touch, focusing on negative memories really connecting with the lyrics of the song.
Feet stomping tempos mixed with the heading bopping movement, ties in perfectly with the next song, as it revives all your energy back and you find yourself moving along to its melody. When it comes to the breakdown, we find our self back to the familiarity of what was previously voiced in its metalcore sounding, bringing a truly amazing breakdown back into the album before it's all finished. ADTR composed the structure of this album and song carefully as it all comes into effects with each other, balancing one another out, keeping the audience entertained but also taking them on a journey which is presented in the last song "I remember." Now this song does what the first one did, it almost takes us back in a cyclic pattern as the meaning is hinted in its name. Again the band have finished their journey, and started to reflect on their success over the years and turned it into a song. The pure, happy and tranquil vibe of this song allows the listener to feel at ease and finally like they have accomplished many things in their life, reflecting on all the positive, nostalgic moments which have made them who they are today. It continuously talks about past memories, which is a key theme throughout this album, recalling how we once felt, putting us now in that same feeling.
The bridge in this song, takes a slightly different route as to repeating the chorus of the song in a slower, highlighted pace, bringing it back to the full energetic, path as a way of ending the whole album and song in full thought pleasure. As you finish the album you will find yourself sat there thinking, "Where I've been" and then also thinking, I either need to do more with my life, or I'm happy with what I've done so far as I've accomplished something. Another nice ending to it is the little commentary which sits at the end as it soon fades into voices of the band, talking about certain memories they have had together. Covering how their band life started, how they tour around beautiful cities, stuck on the motor way, troubles, funny stories, reminiscing memories in which has taken them to be ADTR and what they have been through. I think it's final little touches like this which actually separates a normal studio album to what is something even more, as I feel this album has done that completely in the most mind blowing way. I can honestly say that I love it that much, I would give it a 1000000/10 on every single element possible.Thank you A Day To Remember for giving us something which was worth the wait, and can't wait to see you guys perform this on the tour in February.
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