If you’re anything like me, you probably started the day by recognizing that the start of a new work week had indeed arrived and then immediately began shaking your fists at the sky in anger. Monday is rarely anyone’s favorite day, and from what I have seen firsthand it feels safe to say it’s the one day of the week some people outright hate. I guess to them the arrival of the work week symbolizes the end of their quote/unquote freedom, and as a result they head into the office/factory/restaurant/store with a negative outlook already on their mind. This leads to bad attitudes, which only makes the experience of being at work worse, and for some reason it also seems to make time slow to a crawl. We’re not about that life, and we hope this post can do the same you that the song contained within it did for us.
You cannot throw a rock in the modern hard rock arena without hitting a band that people have described as being passionate and/or deeply personal, but that is definitely not a problem. The last decade has welcomed a crop of new metal kings and queens who are able to connect with increasingly distracted music fans by coupling their own life experiences with some of the sickest riffs ever laid to digital tape. Some would even go as far as to say now is one of the best times in history to be a fan of rock, and those needing proof of this assessment need look no further than The Word Alive’s new album, Dark Matter.
Getting personal with fans is nothing new for The Word Alive. The Arizona based group have practically built their careers atop a series of anthemic, yet introspective cuts that have analyzed everything from the way they see themselves to the way they perceive the world around them. Fans have championed each new release for its ability to pull listeners further and further into the band’s narrative, but no progress made with previous albums can compare to the leaps and bounds taken on Dark Matter. From the politically-leaning anarchy of “Sellout,” to depicting the harsh realities of having an absentee father on “Hell To Pay,” every song on Dark Matter leaves an impact on the listener. Some tracks are thematically heavier than others, but they all come from the same desire to open fans’ eyes to the often troubling realities of the world around them.
If this all sounds a bit too heavy for your liking, just know the music elements of Dark Matter are by far the catchiest and most memorable compositions The World Alive have delivered to date. The nu-metal elements of their previous album, Real, have taken a backseat to an ever-so-slightly mainstream rock focused sound that elevates everything that makes The Word Alive great to a level with far more accessibility for the uninitiated. There isn’t a song on the record that wouldn’t perform well at radio, but there is also not a single track that feels like a dumbing down of the group. This is progression in the best sense of the word, and it sets the bar incredibly high for other bands in the same scene moving forward.
I never expected anything less than quality from The Word Alive, but what I discovered on Dark Matter completely blew me away. In a time when many have begun to question the selling power of rock in the streaming age these five men have found a way to create an album that all but demands repeat listens. It’s impossible to imagine a situation where one walks away from the record wanting anything other than to listen to it all over again, and from there they will most likely desire to discuss the record at length with anyone willing to listen. This is the kind of album that spawns new ideas and discussions about what it is we want from modern rock, and it does so without trying to be anything other than a fitting continuation for the the band that created it.
Despite having been considered a successful band for several years, Dark Matter feels like the first time The Word Alive have offered a completely unabashed portrait of who they are to fans. It’s the most personal and infectious record in their catalog, and it continuously urges the listener to better express themselves through their everyday lives. This is the kind of art we all hope to create in our lifetimes, and it leaves you with a sense the band is still just getting started. They can do anything from here, and after listening to the album you will feel the same. This is a record that will changes lives all over the globe, and I sincerely hope there are more releases like it on the horizon.
James Shotwell is the Digital Marketing Manager for Haulix. He is also a professional entertainment critic, covering both film and music, as well as the co-founder of Antique Records. Feel free to tell him you love or hate the article above by connecting with him on Twitter. Bonus points if you introduce yourself by sharing your favorite Simpsons character.
