In the Wake of Determination,
Story Of The YearSince when did Story of the Year get good? Since when did this very same band start listening to Thrice and latter day Sum 41 records? Whatever was in the water supply during the recording sessions for 'In the Wake of Determination' it did the trick. This is really impressive - and I wasn't expecting it to be at all. 'Page Avenue' was a cliche-ridden disc full of generic riffs and choruses, and while there are a few tracks here that have radio written all over them (hello 'Taste The Poison'), there are some real rippers here that sound more like early Thrice than MTV fodder.
Tracks like 'We Don't Care Anymore' and 'Stereo' certainly have Thrice-esque elements - infact the breakdown in the latter is particularly impressive, simply because it just comes out of nowhere and is about as expected as beyonce turning up on a Yellowcard album. Of course, there are the trademark major label hooks and melodies scattered in amongst all the peeled off riffs and throat scarring vocal work. 'Wake Up The Voiceless' and 'Sue Your Friends, Pay Your Enemy' are keepers too. It's not all good mind - 'Sleep' is boring, while 'Taste The Poison' was clearly written to be a single. But then a song like 'Jarhead' comes along and literally blows your brains out. Fast drumming? Check? Gang vocals? Check. Good times? Check.
'In the Wake of Determination' isn't the best album you'll hear this year, but compared to the limp 'Page Avenue' it seems like Story of the Year have become a different band. If you liked the first record, you'll probably enjoy this too, but if, like me, you wrote the band off for being a bit shit, then this album may well change your mind slightly. A nice surprise...
www.storyoftheyear.com
Maverick
Paul
