Devil's Gate Music
Related Articles
“I wanted the process to be fun, to reflect our renewed vibe and energy…We set out to write the poppiest metal album, or the most metal pop album.” Whether or not ‘Unbreakable’ is the former or the latter, depends on your outlook. It’s poppy for sure, but not in an Ariana Grande-like way, more in the sense of the melodies which are stamped throughout the twelve tracks. Even on edgier tracks like ‘Misunderstood’ and ‘Skeletons’, the softer melodies disguise what is lurking around the corner and ensnare the listener. ‘Skeletons’ in particular is a great example of how a metal band can add electronica and samples into their music without watering the sound down. It also helps that it booms like Godzilla running to the loo after a night on the Newcastle Brown. ‘Shut Up’ has the makings of a huge crossover hit, even the F-bombs are not an issue anymore, have you heard a Pink album?! The title track is a mesmerising mission statement from Costello, a rallying call for everyone to take back their lives, literally. The atmospheric ‘Poltergeist’ grows in stature on each outing, and the layering of Costello’s vocals gives it a creepy effect. ‘My Monsters’ (metaphorical or literal…or both?) is another powerful few minutes, whereas the synth heavy ‘Nocturnal’ is a riotous slice of bubblegum heavy pop that should bring the roof down. ‘Sorry Not Sorry’ is a very strong and catchy few minutes which straddles many genres. Its message of “This is what walking away looks like” is one that will strike a chord with many demographics, and it’s only a few degrees away from what you might hear on mainstream pop radio. But since those few degrees include pounding industrial/electronica, heavy drums and riffs galore, then the chances of a DJ slipping it onto a playlist are slim to none. Closing track ‘I Survived’ is another moment with huge crossover potential. It’s quite easy to imagine this banger alongside tracks from Pink, Bring Me The Horizon and Pendulum on someones Spotify playlist. The streaming generation are less concerned about genres that previous generations, they will hear a few seconds of a track and instantly click “add”, this one should catch their attention. With her empowering identifiable lyrics and fuck-you attitude, Ash Costello is the real-life Harley Quinn that so many have been waiting on. The Halestorm arena tour is the perfect opportunity for New Years Day. ‘Unbreakable’ is a great entry point for legions of new fans, and with luck, many will leave the arenas in November enthusing not just about Halestorm and In This Moment, but also about New Years Day. Available now through Century Media. Review – Dave ]]>
