Unglued Reviews

A funny thing happened to melodic hardcore band From Autumn To Ashes on the way to their fourth album ā€“ assuming that you think a massive lineup reconfiguration is a funny thing. Guitarist Jonathan Cox quit and was replaced by Rob Lauritson after their third album Abandon Your Friends, and Ben Perri ā€“ one of the groupā€™s dual vocalists ā€“ opted out just as the band were preparing to enter the studio for the follow-up. Drummer and co-vocalist Fran Mark then assumed full-time vocal duties himself, resulting in Jeff Gretz joining as touring drummer… and if thatā€™s not enough, former bassist Mike Pilato rejoined after the albumā€™s recording, replacing Josh Newton.

Given that Mark had always handled the cleanly sung vocals (in contrast to Perriā€™s screams), one might expect the group to have moved more in that direction following his transition to sole frontman. As if anticipating this, opener Deth Kult Social Club is one of the heaviest tracks theyā€™ve recorded, with caustic guitars, merciless double kick drums and Mark screaming his lungs out like his life depends on it. He might not be the greatest screamer ever but his ferocious delivery in that area more than suffices to ensure that Perriā€™s absence is hardly noticeable.

But although all the above features remain throughout the album, itā€™s when theyā€™re tempered by combination with accessible elements (the sung chorus of Daylight Slaving being a prime example) that the band really comes into their own. The balance between breakdowns and tunefulness is tricky to maintain, but From Autumn To Ashes has straddled the line perfectly here. The likes of Under Pass Tutorial veer from metal to mellow rock, but more importantly do it well, and deserve to reach an appropriately diverse audience.

Owen Heitmann