Album Review

The Word Alive – Life Cycles

• 5th Jul 2012

A sophomore album can really make or break a band, so after their blistering first album “Deceiver” it really is quite pivotal that metalcore band The Word Alive get this one as right as the first. The intention is shown straight away in the opening track Dragon Spell which has a heavier sound than previous releases by the band, and at parts has quite a haunting quality. As the album progresses several songs shine through, none more so than the title track, a song that has a real single quality about it and shows the true potential of this band.

Life Cycles at times has some deceivingly dark songs, and this is to be expected considering the genre of the album, but it also contains much more than a heavy and dark sound, some songs feel a bit more experimental and it’s a welcome addition at a time when metalcore is beginning to feel repetitive.

The Word Alive may still be in their infancy relativity speaking but they are already generating a large amount of interest especially considering their punishing and tight live performances and it’s obvious that tracks such as “Ambitionary” and “live a lie” which both come at the close of the album will fit in excellently with their live repertoire. The album ends as it began, with a song that has a somewhat haunting feel to it, “Astral Plane”, and that makes it feel the band have come full circle with Life Cycles – but this album is much more than a clever title.

The album delivers; at times the very best of modern metalcore with experimental sounds, songs that are strangely catchy but never really shying away from the heaviness that makes a true metalcore album. The sound may not appeal to all, many are not fond of the direction of the genre is heading, but after listening to Life Cycles it’s hard to argue against the fact that The Word Alive, even with some of their darkest songs, have a future that’s bright.