Story Of The Year - The constant

2002 and 2003 were two crucial years for the alternative rock scene. Several successful albums released at the time built up, musically, commercially and broadly speaking, most of what it is today. One of them is 'Page avenue', Story Of The Year's first album. The unknown band witnessed a quick rise to the top thanks to a few singles and a solid debut in a period that was marking a change in bands and fans' environments. Ever since the release of their first album, just like their fellow newcomers The Used but to a lesser extent, the five-piece from St. Louis, Missouri never stopped fading. With every new album decreased the number of songs I would add on my iPod and with 'The constant', I continue to forge ahead.

I am not surpised, though. If there's one thing this album is not, it's surprising. Its title fits it quite well, even if the constance is more in the regression in my opinion. Story Of The Year have, over the years, lost the edge that made their relative success to embrace a new sound, mix of radio-friendly rock tunes and attempts towards heaviness. While trying to "strip down the excess and get back to basics", the band lost almost all their interest. The record opens on 'The children sing', a loud without being heavy song filled with big riffs and a terribly cheesy chorus where singer Dan Marsala is joined by very annoying kids' vocals to beg: "Don't take this / Don't take this world away from me". The most polished, radio-ready songs are 'To the burial' and the single 'I'm alive', both having very easy and catchy melodies. The boring chorus of 'To the burial' is particularly frustrating as the verses set up a faster pace reminding times when drummer Josh Wills actually played fast. But the deathblow comes with 'Remember a time' and 'Holding on to you', with no doubt the worst songs the band has ever written. The guitar lines of the first one make it sound like a bad Weezer song whilst the ladder is a classic subpar piano ballad I never thought I would hear Story Of The Year play. It seems that guitarists Ryan Phillips and Philip Sneeds are letting their pop influences speak more, as the creation of their side-project Greek Fire could let understand. The heavy tendencies of the band are concentrated on two songs, 'Won threw ate', which lacks the substance that the similar songs had on 'In the wake of determination', and the closer 'Eye for an eye', a fast and scorching song brought down by a weak chorus. The rest of the songs are more moderated in their style, reminding the style of 'Page avenue' ('Ten years down', probably the most efficient track) or 'The black swan ('The ghost of you and I'). Maybe I just got bored and over Story Of The Year's signature style, but the formula seemed to work much better a few years ago. In the end, the good and decent songs don't make up for the bad moments.

There are albums on which you take a while to have a opinion. 'The constant' is not one of them. It's a very simple album, that you will figure out if you like or not during the first listens. Story Of The Year would argue they matured as a band and I will be the first to admit they definitely found their sound over the years, but with it occurred an undeniable decrease in their appeal.

3/5

Recommanded if you like:
The Used, Funeral For A Friend, Lostprophets
Check also:
Greek Fire, The Fuck Off And Dies, Behind Crimson Eyes

www.myspace.com/storyoftheyear
(Epitaph, 2010)