When ADTR boldly claimed their new album would be more melodic and heavier than ‘For Those Who Have Heart‘ I for one scoffed at the prospect. ‘Impossible’ I said, after all there are so many catchy choruses and chuggy breakdowns on that record, particularly the first half. ‘Speak of the Devil’, ‘Monument’, ‘…Panhandle’ – all fantastic songs with huge hooks and some huge riffs. But somehow, and don’t ask me how, A Day To Remember have managed to turn everything up a notch further. There are choruses and melodies New Found Glory would be proud of and riffs as heavy as the likes of Norma Jean and various others. Like pop-punk? You’ll love this record. Like hardcore? You may well discover your new favourite band here too.
Put simply, this is not just the album that breaks A Day To Remember, it’s one of the best crossover records of a terribly generic and highly diluted genre. ‘Homesick’ is a record which blurs the boundaries between pop and something that bit heavier and will have kids dribbling from the mouth. ‘I’m Made of Wax…’ and ‘NJ Legion Iced Tea’ are anthems. It’s as simple as that. The album’s title track is simply enormous. There’s not one bad song on this album, so throw in some massive riffs, rumbling basslines and the best vocals of the band’s career and you have one of the most memorable records of recent years.
It’s too early to declare ‘Homesick’ the album of the year, but it’s safe to say A Day To Remember can expect a commercial boost from this record. Will old-skool fans turn their back on a band who have bigger singalongs than All Time Low? Probably not – this album is just too good. They’ll gain legions of new fans, so hop on for the ride, strap yourself in and get ready to see ADTR become cover stars everywhere in 2009.