Asking Alexandria - Where Do We Go From Here? (2023)^{Release ID: 47056}

I have not listened to a lot of Asking Alexandria. Even during my adolescent years when metalcore was dominating the Warped Tour scene, Asking Alexandria was one of those bands that I could never enjoy. And it's hard for me to figure out why because the electro-core was unique for a time and can't really be pinned down as being derivative. But the songwriting was rather lousy and this band have been unable to do anything about it in an over decade long career.

Where Do We Go From Here? is the first AA album I've heard since 2016's The Black and the first one since that record to return back to the groups electro-core roots. And the results are once again, mixed at best.

This record sounds really muddy all around; from the djent like guitars to the huge sounding snare drum, nothing sounds like it was mixed with a purpose. Many of the vocal melodies are drowned out by a wall of sound. Only the tracks "Let Go" and the closing title track have a noticeable dynamic swell to them that compliments the mix.

I should say that these aren't the only cases of dynamic swell on this album. The only problem is that both "Psycho" and "Let The Dead Take Me" both use electronic trap percussion instead of a fatter groove and it kills the momentum in your most derivative 'verse/chorus' of Imagine Dragons syndrome. Some might wonder why a band like Sleep Token can get a pass while AA gets the critical treatment. So what it all boils down to was the songwriting; trap percussion works with Sleep Token because of how it is incorporated into certain songs. On this record by comparison, they have no connection to the more metal sounding choruses.

Not gonna lie, Where Do We Go From Here? sounds like elevator music. It's something that you notice when its playing, but will immediately forget about as soon as you reach your floor. So... pass I guess? What album was I listening to again?

Best Songs: Let Go, Nothing Left, Holding On To Something More