Emotionalpunk.com
Media Review
Music Quality: 9.0
Production: 8.0
Originality: 8.5
Tracklisting
2. The Truth About Heaven
3. Remember To Feel Real
4. Awkward Last Words
5. Stay On The Ground
6. Flying Above Everything
7. The More You Talk The Less I Hear
8. Basement Ghost Singing
9. Walking At Night, Alone
10. I Have Been Right All Along
11. The End of a Fraud
Armor For Sleep’s highly awaited debut wasn’t anything short of exactly what I expected from the talented quartet. Building on the spacey, atmospheric nature of “Dream To Make-Believe,” the band took it to the next level on “What To Do When You Are Dead.” Focusing intensely on the concept behind the lyrics of the album, the band showcases an insane mini-booklet and DVD with the new album, exciting and reinventing avid fans or first time listeners at the same time.
The new album starts off with an eerie, spacey intro, but blasts quickly into the catchy, rocking chorus the band has now made apparent in their sound. Lots of heavier, punchier guitars and less clean, spacey guitars have transformed Armor For Sleep into a sort of catchy, dark pop rock band; much catchier and punchier than their first album, but with the classic wave of dark lyrics: “...you can’t turn off…that you’re dead…you just deal with it,” Ben belts out. I was shocked when I initially heard this disc, but wasn’t literally blown away until I heard the eerie, perfect “Basement Ghost Singing.”
Throughout the disc, one can’t help but be impressed with the progress the band has made. It’s become very apparent that this band has become very comfortable with their sound and, especially, their guitars. This CD has more balls than ever, and is filled with a sort of mysterious gloom that only Armor For Sleep could really truly pull off. The art is equally amazing, and makes for literally a staple CD for any new-school fans out there, who will immediately find themselves jumping and singing along to all of the choruses and immense development on this disc.