Brighton band City Of Ashes are influenced by Rise Against and Incubus. Although currently unsigned, they have gained support from Kerrang Radio DJ Alex Baker, and are on tour with post-hardcore band Yashin. Following on from the emotional, youth ridden debut album All We Left Behind, the band will release Rise on the 25th March. In comparison to their debut, Rise is a patchy record with some promising moments.
All We Left Behind was a record about youth and innocence, and it is great to see the band continuing that theme in the tracklist, as all the songs link into each other. The album starts off well, ‘Uprising’ featuring ethereal gang vocals reminiscent of 30 Seconds to Mars. ‘Viper’s Nest’ is stunning, the dark soaring guitars adding an air of intensity. There is passion in singer Orion Powell’s vocals as he puts his heart and soul into the chorus as he sings: “Living in the viper’s nest / Praying that I’ll dice with death.” However, the pop-influenced ‘Walk Away’ lets things down badly as Powell sounds as if he is trying too hard, with over exaggerated vocals.
‘Bittersweet’ shows signs of how far City of Ashes can go, the production on the guitars is a step up from their previous album, and the harmonies on the outro work well. However the vocals could have been pushed higher in the mix to give it more of an impact. ‘Save Me’ could be about the protagonists’ struggles with mental health and anxiety, and although you can feel Powell’s emotion as he sings the chorus, it is melodramatic and has been overdone by countless other bands. This approach works better on the tense ‘Illiad’; the anticipating guitar intro is a perfect platform for Powell to showcase his vocal skills. When he sings “This feeling is on the rise / Somewhere in our hearts, we have the strength to survive” this is motivational. ‘Bloodlust’ is well mixed, with fluid drumming from Dan Russell. The songwriting is also strong, with the verse flowing nicely into the chorus.
‘Confessions’ is the best song on the album, a perfect slice of post hardcore. The bass and guitar intertwine beautifully in the verse, and while the harmonies in the chorus feel similar to their contemporaries, they feel big and powerful. The solo shows the band are not afraid to try new things, and you get the feeling that it could be a popular fixture on their setlists. ‘We Own the Night’ starts off with a rumbling bassline. A calming, atmospheric track, it has a chilling reverb on the vocals. The guitar in the background adds to the atmosphere, rounding off an inconsistent album.
Although Rise isn’t perfect, it has moments where City of Ashes shine, and will appeal to fans of 30 Seconds to Mars and Fall Out Boy.
Words by Ermis Madikopoulos