Sound The Alarm Review

Review for "Sound The Alarm" by "Saves The Day":

Saves The Day has done it once again. They have transformed into an entirely new band like they always do for every album they release. The only difference, this time, is that Saves The Day has taken every sound that they have ever created and combined them all into one 13 song album. However, this doesn't mean that Saves The Day is not bringing you an entirely new sound, because I can guarantee you that you have never heard anything quite like this come out of you stereo before. This album is more gruesome than anything that they have ever released. With lyrics like "I took a wrench to my chest, cracked all my ribs, let the blood run over my hands" in "Shattered," one can easily see that singer/songwriter, Chris Conley, has something on his mind that has been haunting him for quite some time. The album grabs your attention the second that Conley's new snotty-tinged vocal style comes ripping through your speakers like nothing you have ever heard before. The jump from the Beatle-esque "In Reverie" to "Sound The Alarm" is such a drastic change that only a band like Saves The Day could pull off. Lead guitarist David Soloway unleashes on a few of the tracks, such as "34," with solos that sound like they could be played in a garage rock song, adding a unique twist to the new sound that Saves The Day has created. Pete Parada, who has been the drummer since the previous album, "In Reverie," shines brightly with his lightning-fast fills and technical beats that any drummer will appreciate. Conley obviously shows a ridiculous amount of talent in song writing by constantly creating music that sounds like nothing he, or anyone else for that matter, has ever constructed before. And last but not least, Manny Carrero, formerly the bassist of Glassjaw, fills the shoes of their previous bassist, Eben D'Amico, quite well. Although D'Amico will never be able to be replaced, Carrero brings a whole lot to the table and adds a unique flair to the songs. There are a few moments on the album that send any Saves The Day fan back into the past, which are the only times that you can be reminded that you aren't listening to a band that you just discovered today. "Don't Know Why" is very reminiscent of "In Reverie," while "Dying Day" is a throwback from the "Stay What You Are" era. Even some traces of their first album, "Can't Slow Down," can be heard when the speed drumming kicks in at the end of "Bones." The album closes with a track called "Hell Is Here," and that is exactly what it sounds like. It gives you a feeling like everything in the world is coming to an end. Saves The Day has never created anything that sounded quite like this before so be sure to go and pick it up when it hits stores on April 11th, 2006.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5