Review Summary: Flawed as it is, it reminds us of free speech as a potent tool against the very fabric of our deepest-seated beliefs.
Few metalcore bands have been as controversial as 14 Sacred Words. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out just what they're all about; it's all in the name, baby.
Not Alone is far from being an exception, rather it carries the full brunt of their divisive ideological stance with flying colors. Whatever one's view on their ideological leaning, fundamentally speaking, it has to be recognized that, just like everyone else, they are entitled to express themselves freely. Anchored on a strong political cause, the album tries to make a statement that echoes to the people who agree with them. While Not Alone is a stalwart effort with a sense of purpose that most couldn't dream of conjuring, it still falls victim to the same pitfalls that afflict metalcore, leading to a mixed bag of tricks that sometimes hits and sometimes misses much like other bands that sound like them but without the political ambition.
Predicatively, the album opens with "A Declaration of War", setting the bar for the record. From the off, with a cutthroat lyrical/musical intensity, 14 Sacred Words makes it very well known it is here to provoke and challenge. "The Monster You Made Me" follows suit, blistering guitar riffs and guttural screams washing upon you like a tidal wave. It signifies their intent to viciously unveil the shadier, more menacing underbelly of society in an attacking and confrontational manner. "To the Fields of Elysium" allows only a brief respite from the assault and shows that the band can vary the heavy instrumentals. "Carry This Vengeance to Hell" is an intense culmination of the essence of the album—dense, keeping much of the fire yet allowing for ample introspection. The song is a true defiant beast at its very core, proving the band is certainly serious about being true to themselves.
Yet, the most exciting track and perhaps the most controversial one is "I, Racist." Here, 14 Sacred Words get into dangerous waters, touching topics that will no doubt polarize the listeners. Of course, freedom of speech needs to be respected, but it is evident that the band took a very divisive and inflammatory stance in this song. It's a pity that such a brave and potentially thought-provoking message gets that bogged down by controversy.
This is not to take away from the fact that
Not Alone lacks much-needed originality in terms of its sound, getting dragged along in the same kind of quagmire that most metalcore releases do. The instrumentation is predictably based on chugging guitar riffs, breakdowns, and growling vocals, which barely stand out in a genre overcrowding itself. No matter what effect their ambitions ideologically will have in the overall landscape of society, the music doesn't push boundaries or offer a fresh take on any of the formulas that metalcore has been running into the ground since day one.
Not Alone is an album that sparks debate and welcomes controversial topics. Flawed as it is, it reminds us of free speech as a potent tool against the very fabric of our deepest-seated beliefs.
