They say all publicity is good publicity - and after our last Aiden review it could be argued that if you hadn't previously checked out the goth-punks, you'd have given them a listen to see what the fuss was all about. When Ianos described the re-release of 'Our Gangs Dark Oath' as "one of the most lyrically retarded albums I have ever heard in my life" I don't think any of us expected the furore (and death threats from street team members) that was to follow. After that release, we didn't receive a single promotional album from Victory to review. Until now. What was that about publicity again?
I'm not too keen on Aiden. I know exactly why they've done so well for themselves as they're part of this My Chemical Romance/AFI goth-emo-punk trend which has captured the imagination of kids worldwide. And fair play to any band that works their balls off, gets out there and creates a mammoth fanbase. Fair play to the kids if this kind of stuff is what they want to listen to. For me, however, I take exception to bands who glorify lives of crime and drug-taking and seemingly use it as a selling point to make the band stick out in a sea of mascara-clad clones.
But that's by the by. This EP is the band's third release in around a year and features a few new songs and a couple of covers. And if you like Aiden, you'll love this record. If you don't, you'll continue to hate them. 'The Suffering' is a very catchy pop song, there's no way round it. The gang vocals give it some credence, but it's a far cry from Between the Buried and Me, Grade or Earth Crisis - bands that gave Victory the hardcore sound it originally was famed for. The rest of this EP flickers between being fairly good and crap. Aiden are definitely a marmite kinda band - there's no middle ground, you love them or hate them. Why cover 'White Wedding' when you know you could never, ever get close to Billy Idol's punk rock snarl? Why write a song like 'We Sleep Forever' which sounds EXACTLY like Davey Havok and AFI?
'Die Die My Darling' and a pretty snazzy DVD make this CD an essential release for fans, but something the haters will probably still hate with a passion. Me? Well I certainly won't lose any sleep over Aiden, but I don't know whether, if in a years time this whole MCR-inspired emo mainstream takeover has imploded, the band could maintain a succesful career for much longer. Is this CD a simple cash-in while the band are successful, or a genuine attempt to put out as many songs as they can for the benefit of their fans? Only a hardened cynic like myself could ask so many questions in one review - maybe one day I'll get the chance to ask the band exactly what the score is. Until then, make up your own mind by giving this a listen. But please, hold off on the death threats this time round...
» Official Website
