Review Summary: While not groundbreaking this is an excellent album and could certainly foreshadow something greater if the band keeps this kind of progression going.
A Skylit Drive is a post-hardcore (whatever that means) band hailing from my home state of sunny California. Before embarking on my review however a few things must be kept in mind about the bands 2nd full length,
Adelphia. For starters there is nothing overly original or unique about this album. That's not to say that it isn't excellent however and this is by far A Skylit Drives best and most complete sounding release. Many are quick to compare the sextuplet to other faux emo outfits such as From First to Last or Chiodos. Another distinct comparison made is that the high octave vocals emitted by frontman Michael Jagmin sound like a slightly less talented Claudio Sanchez. I feel that this is unfair statement as Sanchez is a supremely talented vocalist that few can match anyway. Now setting aside some of our personal biases and keeping a few of these thoughts in mind I will begin my review.
Playing to their strengths from the very start
Adelphia begins with the track
Prelude to a Dream. Starting with softly spoken vocals that recalls a frightened school girl a dark atmosphere is set firmly in place. Harsh screaming then takes over while on of the bands most utilized aspects is put to swift use, the drums. While never reaching extreme heights drummer Corey LaQuay certainly has skill and enough understanding of the kit to focus his talents into a brisk brutal flow. His masterful double bass pounding carries each song along which is only unfortunate due to the fact that the bass player hides in the comfort zone of what he's doing. While not completely a bad thing a more prominent bass is to be desired however the direct thrashing of the kit will easily take your mind off of that unfortunate flaw. The guitar fares much better than the bass particularly on the track
It's Not Ironic, It's Obvious. Beginning with a prog type pattern it's easy to see that the drums aren't the only instrument that will steal your attention, if only for a few seconds at least as the drums are unquestionably the bands pinnacle of talent. Another instrument the band have employed gracefully is the keyboards. While scattered throughout the album in pleasant doses they never seem tacked on and only add to the depth of each track most prominent throughout
I Swear This Place is Haunted.
The vocal and melodic attributes are quite a separate joy all to themselves.
Air the Enlightenment is a truly heartbreaking track that highlights the high octave vocal output beautifully. The majority of
Adelphia features quite a bit less screaming than on previous releases. This all by itself is an advance for the band because while the screaming isn't necessarily bad more often than not it comes off as a generic tack-on.
Running With the Light may be the best example of how much A Skylit Drive have progressed melodically. The track features no screaming but employs a fantastic chorus that allows for Jagmin's high pitched voice to raise and drop effortlessly while exploring new ranges. Underneath the admittedly satisfying screams of the track
Heaven Jagmin again manages to bring his angelic voice to new heights amidst the flurry of drums and tactical prog sequences the band cleverly place where they see fit.
Thank God it's Cloudy Because I'm Allergic to the Sun is probably the track in which all of the members are used to full effect (except the bass player cause he's lame). The more focused structure found here is a prominent factor throughout Adelphia and certainly a step in the right direction after the underwhelming
Wires...And the Concept of Breathing. The lyrics are fairly standard fare and while not groundbreaking they do have their moments and fit the music smoothly. The few flaws stated could be easily fixed by the young band and are more than likely due to lack of experience than lack of passion for what they are doing.
In short
Adelphia is a much more focused affair than thelukewarm
Wires and shows the band not only progressing in a much better direction but they also manage to produce a very worthwhile and fulfilling album along the way. Again the album will most likely not blow anyones mind or make a glaring mark on musical history however if a wonderful hardcore onslaught packed with hailing drums and soaring vocals sounds like your kind of thing Adelphia might be a place to check out.
Build it up, break it down, we've built this, it's ours.
