Album Review: Until I Wake – Inside My Head

Until I Wake have been a band that I have been following since their early days. I can’t remember how exactly I ran across them but they have been on my radar for quite some time now. I always thought they were a band deserving to be signed and one that I found very intriguing. Since then the band has signed with Fearless Records in 2021 and released an EP. With that the day I have long awaited has arrived, the release of their debut album “Inside My Head.” Up to this point the band has done a great job of mixing a heavy metalcore sound with pop punk, catchy leaning sound. I was extremely intrigued and maybe a tad apprehensive on what direction the band would go with on their debut record. That being said I find myself mostly satisfied with the band’s debut LP and also looking to their future with excitement and hope.

Genre: Metalcore | Post Hardcore

Label: Fearless Records

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Stream:  Spotify | Apple Music

FLOW / LONGEVITY / ORIGINALITY

Until I Wake’s debut LP is 13 tracks and clocks in at around 43 minutes. The flow on the album is something of a mixed bag. The opening track “The Sacrifice” kicks things off haunting dialogue from overlords who have are ruling humanity in a dystopian nightmare. Next track “Forsaken” is a blistering heavy track that showcases the bands prowess at a metalcore focused sound. The flow of the album mostly works but can take abrupt turns at a few spots. Jumping from the punishing track “Octane” to the heavily nu-metal influenced, Linkin Park esque  “Reasons” might be jarring for some. Overall these few moments aren’t enough to derail the flow of the album as a whole.

Those who are well accustomed to the metalcore genre will find many familiar elements throughout. The album is rife with bruising breakdowns, soaring & catchy choruses and electronic elements. The band also isn’t afraid to lean more heavily into pop punk elements and their more melodic side. While the album might not be oozing with originality, it still has plenty of staying power. The band is able to keep it fresh with the variety of influences found on the record without ever straying too far from the tried and true metalcore sound.

Until I Wake – Inside My Head (Official Music Video)

Until I Wake – Inside My Head (Official Music Video) Listen/download the new song: https://found.ee/insidehead Subscribe to Fearless Records on YouTube: http://found.ee/fr_youtube “Inside My Head” by Until I Wake is Out Now Apple Music: https://found.ee/insidehead_am Spotify: https://found.ee/insidehead_sp Amazon: https://found.ee/insidehead_amz Video: https://found.ee/insidehead_mv iTunes: https://found.ee/insidehead_it Pandora: https://found.ee/insidehead_pd Bandcamp: https://found.ee/insidehead_bc TikTok: https://found.ee/insidehead_tt Deezer:

VOCALS / INSTRUMENTATION

One of the band’s biggest strengths lie with their vocalist Cody Johnson. He handles both screaming and singing duties, showing both versatility and prowess on both ends of the spectrum. His screams range from brutal lows to shrieking mids. It’s refreshing to see a vocalist try to inject variety of different ranges and not stick with one range. Johnson’s singing leans more toward what you would expect from a pop punk vocalist, which works in the bands favor. He elevates the choruses and does a great job at keeping the melodic and pop focused sound fresh and relevant.

Instrumentally the band are firing on all cylinders. The guitarwork is varied with plenty of riffs, crunchy breakdowns and even a guitar solo or two thrown in. Guitarist August Lee Geitner displays great shredding skills throughout the album and is able to adapt to all the different styles with ease. Bassist Ryan Ridley provides thumping bass lines throughout and I constantly found myself zeroing in on the bouncy bass lines. Last but certainly not least, drummer Austin Curtin throws some frenzied drumming. It provides the backbone for each of the songs and showcases that each member has something to bring to the table. Until I Wake is not an one man show and the final product wouldn’t be what it is without each of the members.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall Until I Wake’s debut album ends up being a triumphant success in my eyes. Sure, it may not be breaking any boundaries too far outside metalcore genre, but it doesn’t have to. What the band does, they do great. Each member meaningfully contributes and its no wonder that Fearless Records picked them up so early in their career. Plenty to love on this record with the variety of styles from metalcore, pop punk to electronic. Fans of the core genre who are not yet familiar with this band need to check them out! This record will likely end up on repeat for the rest of this year! Until I Wake’s debut album “Inside My Head” is out now via Fearless Records wherever you stream music!