Review Summary: A band too much like Blessthefall in this album put up a good effort, while not sounding spectacular, they try...
Craig Mabbit is most famous for being the vocalist of Blessthefall, after leaving mid-tour to be a father, he was ready to return to music...to find his band didn't want him back, as such he began The Word Alive, which sounds, well, just like BTF.
The EP begins with
I'm Sorry which kicks off with just the drum track playing with some sound clips alongside it, the guitars start off before breaking into a riff that seems quite familiar with other
The Word Alive songs.
Mabbit can sing, his high voice, screams and low growls blend well with the music and the genre as a whole.
While the production quality of this song sounds below average, I can understand it's a demo. To be honest, this song isn't one that sounds overly Blessthefall-ish.
It didn't strike me as one of the most memorable songs from this EP but it's not bad, a pretty average post-hardcore track.
Then comes
Casanova Rodeo, one of the strongest songs from the EP and the band with Craig Mabbit, however, it does sound very similar to Blessthefall's style, I don't know if this is down to the vocalist or the guiars which also ring a bell for me. The song is pretty repetitive, with most of the time, the same lyrics being repeated for the most part of the song and the marching-like drums throughout.
It stands out as, in my opinion, the best song on the EP.
The beginning scream of
The Devil Inside is bearly audible, and the song's theme seems to me, in the same vein as
Guys Like You Make Us Look Bad by
Blessthefall, but arguably more technical, with repetitive double bass for the most part but well played guitars. However, this is another one of the stronger songs for this EP.
Are You On Drugs? starts sombrely, with a slow guitar intro before breaking into what sounds like
I'm Sorry's guitars, this song is okay, but can feel a bit samey and filler-y at times in my opinion. Featuring more repetitive double bassing, I have come to terms with the fact the drumming is nothing special, but the guitars definately make up for it,with the sweep picking solo featured in this song.
The EP closes with
Can't Let Up, a song which sounds quite promising guitars wise, but quickly sounds like filler and like every song on this debut. A track which is quickly forgettable, this isn't really a great way to close an EP.
A few more songs in the same vein as
Casanova Rodeo and
The Devil Inside (easily the CDs best songs).
You're not missing anything by not hearing Craig Mabbit with
The Word Alive, if you've heard
Blessthefall, you've heard the best this EP has to offer. While not a bad album, it's far from amazing, it's best to be enjoyed to bridge the gap between Mabbit's old band BTF's debut work
His Last Walk and the upcoming sophomore albumwithout him.
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