Review: As Cities Burn - Hell or High Water

ARTIST: As Cities Burn ALBUM: Hell or High Water RELEASED: 4/12/09 LABEL: Solid State Records (a division of Tooth & Nail Records)

About three years ago, I went to my first Underoath show in Nashville. One of the bands touring with them carried the title "As Cities Burn". What I heard that night and the group's latest release, Hell or High Water, have about as much in common as an '89 Geo Prizm next to a '66 Pontiac GTO. For those who don't speak automobile, not many similarities.

And likely so. In the time since that date, the band has had a few major lineup changes following an almost-disband in the summer of 2006. Yet the band remains a productive, touring unit.

Solid State Records should bring to mind names like Underoath or Norma Jean, and the associated metal/hardcore genre. But this record continues the band's departure from being a mostly screamed-vocal band, beginning with 2007's Come Now, Sleep. While there are still a few patches of rough, scratchy lines from singer Cody Bonnette, I prefer to think of them as "empassioned vocals", which do a LOT more for me than some of the shrieked nonsense being released these days.

As far as musicality goes, less is so much more. Although the songs are very much driven by lead guitar, the work of a single guitarist on the majority of the tracks gives the album a very nice spacey and open feel, and the listener plenty of room to stretch his/her legs. The crispness of vocals is much appreciated, and subtle touches of electronics ("Lady Blue", "Petty") give the album a nice character. There certainly have been some knobs turned in the studio.

The tracks have some amount of diversity compared to one another as well. The disc opens with "84 Sheepdog" (love the Dumb and Dumber reference by the way), a track that reminds me a lot of Finch mixed with someone who has some sweet tea in their system. "Into the Sea" and "Made Too Pretty", which I would tag as my two favorites, have the most "single" potential about them. "Lady Blue" gives me impressions of that bits-at-a-time lyricism typical of Connor Oberst. And hey, I'd even describe "Capo" as a strange kind of groovy.

To some, Hell or High Water could potentially come across as dull in some ways. I think a much better word here is "thoughtful". Sure, you wouldn't necessarily rock this flying down the highway in your convertible this summer (and maybe you would), but there are plenty of occaisions to do so too. Don't shoot it down just cause you can't party to it. I was extremely pleased with this release and would totally recommend.


Written by: Spencer C.