Review Summary: Brutal and melodic with a hint of orchestra
Yes, this is my favorite band and yes, this is a pretty biased review, but don't let my subjectivity fool you.
Innocence and Instinct is amazing. By no means is this a technical masterpiece or an inspiration to the masses, but for what it is, the album is marvelous. I remember listening to this album when it first came out, and it blew seven year-old me away. The mix of distortion with acoustics and added orchestra was a blend of perfection. Nine years later, this still stands true.
Innocence and Instinct still remains one of my favorite albums of all time, but enough of that, let's get on to the actual music.
The most prominent sound found throughout the entire album is heavy distortion. Anthony and Randy Armstrong (guitar and bass, respectively) continuously blast down tuned riffs and chords throughout the album. Whether playing in-your-face riffs found in
Shadows and
Out from Under or powerful choruses in songs like
Confession (What's Inside My Head), the Armstrongs drive the songs forward with sheer brutality. Although most of the time your speakers are blaring hard-hitting riffs, there are a few scattered acoustic guitars found within songs.
Never Be the Same and
Take It All Away are full of acoustics and subtle melodies written by Anthony, providing a surprisingly refreshing "break" from the usual heaviness. To compliment both sides of the musical spectrum, Joe Rickard's drumming continues to enhance each song, both quiet and loud alike. Although the drumming isn't technical by any means, it sustains each song and contains enough creativity in each song to make it all the more interesting.
Although the common instruments provide the foundation for the album's musical sound, it is really the orchestra that brings it to another level. In every song on the album, there is some sort of orchestral element found within. Whether it be piano or strings, the band's ability to implement such instruments into the heavy nature of the album is remarkable.
Death of Me is complemented by eerie strings found throughout the verses and accompanied with melodic strings throughout the chorus, while
Mystery of You (and songs of the like) are frequently supplied with a full orchestra, providing an additional atmosphere to the songs. Piano dominates the background in songs like
Fight Inside and the cover of
Ordinary World, providing subtle notes that amplify the sounds of the album. However, the magnificent musical side of
Innocence and Instinct doesn't end here.
Michael Barnes' vocals are unbelievable. His ability to alternate between a blood-chilling scream to melodic singing has greatly improved since their debut
End of Silence. Songs like
Ordinary World and
Never Be the Same showcase his amazing vocal range, while songs like
Out from Under and
Death of Me exhibit his insane screams. His melodic voice is complemented by strings throughout the choruses, while his screams are accompanied by heavily distorted guitars in the breakdowns. Not only is his voice spectacular throughout, the emotion behind each song is clearly heard.
There's no denying that the lyrics tend to focus on more spiritual matters, such as the warfare between flesh and spirit as well as the calls for help through the "darkness." However, the lyrics aren't blatant and obvious. They remain subtle and cleverly written throughout all songs, providing for a wide range of interpretation to the themes of the album.
Although, as stated before, this album is no masterpiece by any means, it holds a special place in my heart.
Innocence and Instinct introduced me to the realm of hard rock and inspired me to follow my current dream of performing music. Joe Rickard's captivating drumming inspired me to follow suit and become a drummer from a young age, and Anthony Armstrong's simple yet interesting guitar riffs opened my eyes to the world of guitars, also inspiring me to become a guitarist. Of course, this album has its fair share of flaws, but the inspiration behind the music elevates my feelings towards the album greatly, leaving it at a high ranking in music to me.
