In 2005, As Cities Burn was almost an entirely different band. Thier debut album, Son, I Loved You at Your Darkest, was driven by experimental music mixed with a new-age hardcore sound and structure. In 2006, the band faced hiatus as the departure of bassist Pascal Barone threw As Cities Burn into a new direction. After the departure of the bassist, the original vocalist, T.J. Bonnette, also left the band in pursuit of building a relationship with his wife. In August of 2007, As Cities Burn released their second album, entitled Come Now Sleep. The album brought their same mix of experimental sound, however, it was no longer hardcore in any aspect. The album provided a more relaxing and complex sound and held a much more serious tone. Almost 2 years later the band is back with their third album, Hell or High Water. What can we expect from the band this time?
Much like on the last album, the band employs a complex style and always interesting song-writing. With Hell or High Water, be ready to have that window down and radio up because I tell you, it couldn’t be more perfect. As Cities Burn has perfected that new sound they discovered on Come Now Sleep with tracks like “Pirate Blues”, “Into the Sea” and “84′ Sheepdog”, while also offering a couple new jams such as “Capo” that should make you and a friend look at each other and say “Oh!”
Even though some may be upset with the direction As Cities Burn has taken since thier first album, I believe that older fans and newer fans can both enjoy Hell or High Water. The album is only 9 tracks long, which is unfortunate, because I keep finding myself searching for more. This may not be comparable to the first album or even the second, but it offers up its own sound and it works. Even with the band’s Christian orthodox religion and message, the band delivers an album that will hopefully keep you listening until… who knows?
