Review: As Cities Burn - Hell or High Water

As Cities Burn is, even in today's varied and often spastic scene, an oddity. Though beginning as an above-average post-hardcore outfit that fit in snugly with their veteran Solid State labelmates, the departure of lead vocalist TJ Burnette in 2007 led the band down a path far removed from that of their previous efforts. 2008's Come Now Sleep proved that the band was not only comfortable pushing the envelope musically, but lyrically and thematically as well.
Hell or High Water, the band's third record, continues the foray into novel sonic territory. The band, lead vocalist Cody Bonette in particular, seems to have grown into this new sound, with Bonette's vocals sounding more confident and even more expressive than before. The instrumentation is well-placed and adds life and passion to the thematic and conceptual elements of the album, in a sort of whole-greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts way. Thematically, the album is rife with questioning and self-evaluation; it's deeply personal and very easy to connect to. The central focus is a look at the state of love and compassion in the real world, without ties to any church, much like the prior releases. It's powerufl from any point of view, giving it the ability to appeal to anyone who cares to listen. The eclectic soundscapes manage to mesh perfectly with the lyrics, ranging from spacey, Circa Survive-esque instrumentation to bluesy crunches and cleans.
Ultimately, however, the same eclectic qualities bog down some of the tracks--the opener and closer are good songs in their own right, but when compared with the rest of the record, seem out of place and don't mesh well with the other songs. Despite this, however, the flow of tracks is nearly seamless and the record proceeds very cleanly and flows smoothly. Bonette's lyrics catch the mind and heart, prompting thought, and the songwriting is top-notch.
Hell or High Water proves that As Cities Burn is still trailblazing and maturing in so many ways. The band is as progressive as progressive can be. Don't miss this one.
Check these tracks: "Errand Rum" / "Pirate Blues"
It is important to note that the last track, "Capo," is by the band Jonezetta and features Cody on vocals.

GENRE: Progressive Indie/Post-hardcore
RELEASE DATE: 4/21/09
RATINGS:
Musicianship: 9
Lyrics: 10
Originality: 9
Overall: 10