Evolution in a band’s sound is something that is always interesting to hear – especially in the many sub-genres of metal. Bands like Bring Me the Horizon, Suicide Silence, Cattle Decapitation and more have all undergone significant changes in their sound. These changes are usually polarizing to a fan base, but in the end, these bands are all searching for a way to break into a new demographic. For Illinois’ heavy-hitters Sworn In, it started with 2015’s ‘The Lovers/The Devil’, where they began to introduce clean vocals and a more depressive, emotional side of the band. Vocalist Tyler Dennen transformed his angst into something more than series of screams, bringing out new elements to their sound that were, quite frankly, extremely unexpected. Two years later, the band heads through an even more theatrical route with the release of their upcoming album, ‘All Smiles’.
[metalwani_content_ad]The title alone is thought-provoking because this album is filled with songs that bring anything but smiles to the listener. Throughout the 11-track effort, you will hear songs dealing with depression, loneliness, abandonment and being hurt, just to prove that they still feel. The opening track, “Make It Hurt” begins with what sounds like the ramblings of a madman and, through use of tempo change in the chorus, transforms into the tale of someone who has become numb from years of abuse. The drums, played by Chris George, have a strong focus on this track. Low self-esteem, being shunned from society and feeling constantly judged is a theme that is discussed with “Don’t Look At Me” which sees an angry, angst-ridden Dennen screaming “it f**king hurts when I feel their eyes staring at me/I’m begging you/DON’T LOOK AT ME.” This track has a very heavy, groove-ridden feel to it and even sees Dennen go into a deeper, growl-like range with his screams. One of the heaviest tracks on the album, it will surely appeal to fans of the band who preferred the heavy nature of their album ‘The Death Card’.
If you don’t know of Dennen’s clean vocals and you want a good example of the talent he possesses, the title track, is a good place to start. Theatrical and haunting, his voice commands your attention from the start before a musical cataclysm overtakes the track, sending you into a violent spiral of beautiful chaos.
“The Smiling Knife” remains my favorite track, as it’s a great example of what happens when the band mixes the perfect amounts of raw, visceral aggression with Dennen’s small amount of soaring, clean vocals. The partnership between guitarist Eugene Kamlyuk and bassist Derek Bolman really shines on this track as well.
An eerie, dark atmosphere settles around the listener as they’re introduced to “Closer to Me,” which focuses heavily on the melodic aspect of the band with minimal screams. This continues through the final track on the album, “Cross My Heart,” with the switch being flipped to focus on the heavier side. The yin-yang nature of these tracks makes them perfect for their positions on the album.
[metalwani_content_ad]The only real complaint I have about this album is that it doesn’t have a climactic point. Instead, the middle of the album becomes almost monotonous at times. Individually, the tracks have their own ebb-and-flow style, but there’s nothing really bringing it to its peak like you’d expect with this genre. ‘All Smiles’ is a solid album that will have fans of Sworn In new and old on the edge of their seats. Grab your straitjacket, strap yourself in and step into insanity with this album, out June 30th via Fearless Records.
1 comment