Record Collection #10: Sleeping With Sirens - Feel

I have some very mixed feelings about this record. At first I liked it, but really, I haven't really played it a whole lot to be honest.

Sleeping With Sirens - Feel (2013)

1. Feel
2. Here We Go
3. Free Now
4. Alone
5. I'll Take You There
6. The Best There Ever Was
7. Low
8. Congratulations
9. Deja Vu
10. These Things I've Done
11. Sorry
12. Satellites


This one was my first vinyl pre-order. Definitely exciting to get a new record in the mail of new music that you haven' heard. The delay in arrival because of the production time of the vinyl does suck (my girlfriend pre-ordered on CD, and got hers on time, while I'll received my record a week later), but it's one of the most satisfying feelings, making it definitely worth the extra wait.

I ordered it on the red pressing over the white. I figured white is a pretty common color artist seem to press their music on and that I'll likely get another album on white in the future; even though I'm currently at my 28th record, and still don't own anything on white vinyl. Ha. Anyhow, the red looks really crisp, and I like how it matches the text on the cover, even if that is an incredibly small connection, they compliment each other wonderfully.

As far as the music goes, I don't know; I'm kind of torn between a couple songs that are pretty good, but I suppose all in all, I feel this album is a step down from their previous two. The album starts out kind of plain. The title track "Feel" actually feels kind of out of place. Things didn't really pick up for me until 4 tracks in with "Alone" where MGK made an unexpected rapping vocal appearance, that I admit I didn't care for at first, but now sounds like it fits in well.
The next two tracks are also quite good. "The Best There Ever Was is the album's "heavier" song featuring Fronz from Attila, and frontman Kellin get's pretty into it as well ("WHA-WHA-WHA-WHAT") which gives the song a lot of energy. However, "I'll Take You There" [video below] impressed me the most off this album. The song kicks off with a really solid chorus that leads into some really smooth verses. It's just a really good flowing, solid track. The guest vocal appearance by Shayley Bourget; former clean vocalist of Of Mice & Men; now front man of the new band Dayshell; was a welcome surprise. I just wish he had a longer part, but him and Kellin double upping on 2 separate parts of this bridge is the best part of this song that completely over rules the entire album, and in my opinion, is of a much higher caliber than what I would expect from SWS.
After "The Best There Ever Was" the album drops off for me. There's the single "Low" that sounds the most like "old SWS", and a late 80's, early 90's rock style song "Congratulations" featuring Matty Mulins (frontman of Memphis May Fire) that's going to be either love or hate for most fans (I don't like it, but it was still fun to see live at Warped Tour). Deja Vu is a surprisingly sexual song which is a new writing approach from Kellin. The rest of the album is rather forgettable, for me at least.

It's an alright album. If the rest of the tracks were as solid as the 4th through 7th tracks, it would be an awesome record. Regardless, "I'll Take You There" is a musical jewel that everyone into this genre of music should check out.

[pictures from google images and my instagram (@draggingtheneedle), video from youtube]

Atlas Genius - Back Seat (Official Music Video)

Vinyl Collection #9: Bring Me The Horizon - Sempiternal

Bring Me The Horizon has been around for a while and throughout all their albums we've seen a very subtle evolution of their sound working down to something...That something is this. This is Sempiternal!

Bring Me The Horizon - Sempiternal (2013)

1. Can You Feel My Heart
2. The House of Wolves
3. Empire (Let Them Sing)
4. Sleepwalking
5. Go to Hell, For Heaven's      Sake
6. Shadow Moses
7. And the Snakes Start to Sing
8. Seen It All Before
9. Antivist
10. Crooked Young
11. Hospital For Souls


I didn't preorder this album as it released when I first begun my vinyl collecting. However, I did order it once given the chance, and I held off listening to it more than once until it came in. what we have is a simple gatefold with the lyrics in the center fold. nothing too fancy. The back has the track listings, and the front the cover art. Surprisingly enough, the band name is no where to be found anywhere on the record. Not the cover, spine, back, centerfold, credits, not even on the center label of the vinyl it'self. Kind of odd. So when my grandchildren look through all my prehistoric records after I'm long gone, they'll have no clue who it is! Eh, they'll probably just scan it using their iOS 184 device and google it if they care that much. Ha.

The vinyl is a cool translucent yellow that give off the impression that it's a shiny gold while spinning on the turntable. Much like the one I got with Parkway Drive's "Killing With A Smile". This one is a bit more yellow though. Other pressing include clear, and standard black.

Sempiternal is probably BMTH's most unique album yet, and I love it. The first song "Can You Feel My Heart" set's the mood wonderfully. New innovations such as the new keyboardist Jordan Fisher just feels like the missing piece of the puzzle. Fisher also helped Oliver Sykes bring forth some new music styles including; what?; Singing? Definitely some unexplored territory for frontman Sykes who in the past, only reduced his screams and growls to chanting shouts. The emotion the singing portions bring is just the freshness the band needed, and it's more than welcome. Most notably so in "And The Snakes Start To Sing" and "Hospital For Souls" (if you happened to get the deluxe edition [not available on vinyl] an additional song "Deathbeds" is an amazing display of Sykes new talents).

Don't worry hardcore fans of the old style BMTH; heavy songs are still there and the pit will still be in action. Songs like "Empire", "Shadow Moses", and "Antivist" are all heavy jams that hold a lot of energy. Most of the other songs are mixtures between the 2 sounds offered in this record. My personal favorite off this album has to be "Sleepwalking" [video below!].

Be warned though; most of this album is based off a troubling time where the band felt their life was basically looping itself (hence the album name "Sempiternal", which means without having a known start or end.); according to an interview (also available on the deluxe edition). A number of these songs push against religious beliefs. And they push rather hard. The band has no problem displaying their personal atheistic views, even to the point where some who value their own religious views could take the message personally offensive. So if religion is a sensitive topic for you, or lack there of, be cautious when listening to this one. But all that aside, this is still one of the best albums released recently out of the hardcore genre.

[all images from google images and my instagram (@draggingtheneedle), video from youtube]