Album Review: New Year's Day - Unbreakable

Keeping up with the times is a bit of a task. We all tend to get into a groove with the stuff we listen to, and our taste solidifies around a core identity. The thing is; evolution never stops, so it's easy to get left behind if we don't consciously try to open our minds to new sounds and new ideas as they come along. I have felt this way with the modern rock scene, as the particular brand of it I used to listen to has been cycled out in favor of newer sounds. Trying to embrace those has been difficult. But still I try to make sure I'm not totally out-of-touch, so I poke my head in and sample bits here and there. One of those that caught my attention was New Year's Day.

I knew they were growing their audience and their stature, but I hadn't delved into their music until the first single for this new album, "Skeletons", was released. That song, the first time I heard it, sunk its teeth in. It was heavy and catchy, but done in a modern way that sounded so fresh compared to the usual fare. I've listened to that song dozens of times in the meantime, and it's one of the best songs of the entire year. It had me rather excited to hear what else the band had in store for us.

Our second taste was the leadoff track "Come For Me", which is quite different. After a few heavy riffs, the chorus features repeating, staccato vocals that attack like a snare drum. It's a very rhythmic approach to songwriting, something I feel takes a few spins to fully appreciate, especially because when Ash sings the few melodic moments, her voice makes me wonder why it isn't highlighted even more.

There's a strong electronic/dubstep feeling to the record, even if it is purely rock throughout. The guitars skitter and slur, coming in and out of the songs like a drop. It's half djent, half club anthem, and something completely different than anything I've heard before. My mind interprets music through a melodic language, so some of the instrumental details and equations throughout this record require focus and thought to quite understand. It shows music doesn't have to be highly technical pro in order to challenge us.

Thankfully, Ash does get plenty of opportunities to show off her voice. "Unbreakable" features an instrumental backing that is somewhat like if Cannibal Corpse tried to write a ballad, and it lets Ash belt out some huge vocals and screams. It slows the record down without softening it at all, and it sits in a perfect middle-ground where the band is ready to play the biggest stages.

When the band is at their best, they're fusing ultra-modern riffs with big, propulsive hooks. "Done With You" is a great example, with a riff in the bridge that is almost like a telegraph pounding out the message, and then Ash comes in with the hook, and it's massive. The same can be said of "Poltergeist", where the mood is more important than the heaviness, but the end result is another song with a huge chorus.

As I was saying before, all of us eventually become a man (or woman) out of our time. Listening to New Year's Day, I do feel a bit of that. The push/pull, jerking guitars are the sound of a generation different than mine, and I do feel a bit out of place as the record rolls on. But when I consider what the modern rock scene is, I also come away thinking that New Year's Day has a few of the best singles I'm likely to be hearing this year. Some of the songs I've already mentioned should spend considerable time on the charts, at least if there's justice. Yes, I'm a bit of an outsider to this particular record, but it won me over. When the new record smell wears off, and there's been enough time for it to settle, there's quite a bit of strong songwriting here.

"Unbreakable" was a more challenging record for me than most mainstream rock is, but in this case, that's exactly what makes it work. New Year's Day is on the cutting edge, and they've got the songs to make sure the blade is sharp enough to cut through the chaff.