The furious press campaign that preceded this release, along with the amount of effort Victory Records put in to prevent an early leak says a lot about what A DAY TO REMEMBER have become. With half a million albums sold to date, they’re a far cry from the band that broke through with ‘And Their Name Was Treason’ back in 03. They’re a big band now, and a big brand for Victory Records. This needs to be a BIG album.
And it is. It really fucking is. It’s big, it’s dirty, it’s poppy, it’s chuggy; it’s A Day To Remember turned up to eleven in every aspect. ‘Sticks And Bricks’ is a precision-written opener, designed to loosen the morals and eliminate the weak-willed listeners in its first instance. Jeremy Mckinnon’s growls roll like thunder from the speakers while behind him all hell is breaking loose in the low-end frequencies. Honestly, there’s a limit to how loud you can turn this record up because things genuinely start to fall off the walls.
That said, it is without a doubt formulaic; A Day To Remember have always had a very safe attitude towards songs structure and they pull no surprises here. Do the shouty bits first, belt out a chorus or two then stick a beatdown in towards the end. It’s tried and tested, but there isn’t any denying they’ve made it work time and time again. For sure, it’s their most commercially viable record to date and there are some pure pop anthems on here. You forgive ADTR though, because for every ‘It’s Complicated’, there are four colossal beatdowns elsewhere that more make up for it.
‘What Separates Me From You’ will inevitably see Victory Records reaping the rewards of a sound investment. For many it’s been the most anticipated record of the year, and for those expecting the goods; it delivers swiftly, loudly and thoroughly. The hype – for now at least – is justified.
ANDY RITCHIE