Album Review: The World Alive - 'Hard Reset'
Phoenix metalcore band The Word Alive have finally released their 7th studio album - their latest alternative exploratory album ‘Hard Reset’ is now blowing up our ears.
The duo now a trio with recently added drummer Daniel Nelson have produced an heavier deeper album that opens up the next chapter for The Word Alive. The new album feature metalcore and pop punk heavyweights such as Noah Sebastian (Bad Omens), Loveless and Escape the Fate. This rounds out the album to be a heavy hitter that brings together the edgy metalcore vibe we are needing.
Opening the album with an introduction like out of an sci-fi film ‘The Word Alive Is Dead’. Gives thelistener a chance to fully immerse themselves into the album. You can hear the AI atmosphere vibes among the dark hook that welcomes us to the smashing sound of Daniel Nelson (Drummer). While Telle Smith (vocals & guitars) vocals have a sense of creepiness. This all changes as we are fully changed into ‘Hard Reset’ with proves the vocal ability of Telle as he transitions effectively from clean to scream vocals. As we get half way though the album, it takes a softer direction with ‘Slow Burn’ a ballad that still has an undertone of restless.
The features on this album is quite huge, each track has taken influenced from their feature artist. With tones and riffs that have a similar sound to their original band. Even if you didn’t know who the featured artists was you may think it sounds similar to a particular band. Which is not a bad outcome for The Word Alive, as it feels like we were transported to a new world filled with new twists and turns. Were at times felt like yen and Yan, when the dark meets the light.
The journey of ‘Hard Reset’ is dynamic filled with punchy catchy tracks and gloomy ballads. Which speak to inner demons and the pandemic world that we lived in. ‘Hard Reset’ is delivered in what seems to be a new AI world that we would like to be apart off, if it’s The World Alive world.
Words by Victoria Lewis
