Along Came A Spider - Resurgence

Austin Condict | Jun. 30, 2014

ACAS’s most mature and progressive album to date, Resurgence, will hit shelves this Fall, and trust the word of a music nerd, it won’t disappoint. Fans of bands like Memphis May Fire, We Came As Romans, Born Of Osiris, and Silverstein will be able to appreciate the uplifting, soul-thrashing, post-hardcore feel of this Standby Records trophy. After multiple sessions of putting the third album under a microscope (using my Dark Side Of The Moon method: blinds closed, eyes closed, headphones loud), I was seriously impressed by how quickly the underlying depth and obvious effort surfaced like a crowd-surfing mosher.

 

Having shared the stage with heavyweights in the scene like Asking Alexandria, Suicide Silence, Oceano, The Devil Wears Prada, and Black Veil Brides (another creative force birthed by Standby Records), Along Came A Spider has already acquired an active fanbase. Their upcoming sophomore LP, however, displays an evident growth within the band, both through lyrical content and radically dynamic styles employed over 15 tracks of Resurgence. There is no doubt in my mind that this is an active strategy to appeal to a broader demographic of listeners, and it will work.

 

The first track to really stand out for me was “Metamorphosis,” evoking a somewhat Bullet For My Valentine sensation instantaneously. What really hooked me was, (being a deathcore enthusiast), the perfectly timed execution of breakdowns in this song, the first of which is preceded by afflicting lyrics like “They call us a lost cause,” and an injured wail of “These ghosts will no longer haunt me!” This track is certainly one of the heavier songs from Resurgence and is sure to speak directly into the soul of anyone still encumbered by regret.

 

Joel Sedlak on keyboards plays a very energetic role for the entire album, from accenting numerous songs, (“Voice Of The Voiceless,” “Wanderlust,” and “A Siren’s Call”), with aggressive synth work seen in bands like Attack Attack! and Abandon All Ships, to providing a breathtaking and skeletal piano performance that makes the male-female vocal duet in “Land On” the most intimate piece ACAS has released thus far. Still, coming out of the gate with heavy-hitting lyrics like “We’re so fucking diluted/ All our sins and delusions/ Without a reason to fight/ Where’s the reason in life?” and ending in a bone-crushing breakdown filled with Sedlak’s raving synth sweeps, “Slide” takes the cake for an aggressive and meaningful fusion held together by expert keyboard work.

 

Well ladies, here is the moment you’ve been swooning for, my opinionated pick of the litter. The Most Fuck Yeah Track Award for Resurgence goes to “All Gods.” Instantly, before my iTunes can make it past the first four seconds of this song, I’m starting a mosh pit in my living room. “All Gods” launches with an excruciatingly heavy riff and revisits it again one minute later simply because it’s just too good not to mention twice. This steel-toe stomping riff isn’t the only weapon in this track’s circle pit arsenal, though! After a decade of devouring metal and hearing one too many generic breakdowns, I am always refreshed to find original sounding techniques, and the principal breakdown here delivers with an off-key pitch change and battle-ready tempo. Breathlessly, this track concludes with a melodic guitar solo and a choir-styled chant of “We are the gods now.” Is it really necessary to say again how much I loved this song?

 

The most memorable albums are those that can speak directly to the listener, using themes the audience will be able to relate with. For me, Resurgence is one of those albums to be thankful for. Along Came A Spider’s second full-length release delivers an inspiring message for their fans (called “Arachnids”) regarding change and mending the pieces of shattered lives. These guys are certainly an accelerating force to be reckoned with, as well as a refreshing bridge uniting different styles and tastes. Follow them on Youtube, Facebook and Twitter, and don’t miss out on the Resurgence this Fall!