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Part of A Day to Remember’s charm is knowing how much their sound shouldn’t work as well as it does. The amalgamation of hardcore, pop-punk, and metalcore blend together seamlessly to form their discography, showcasing the Floridian five-piece having fun above all else. After teasing for what seems like an eternity, the bands seventh record marks the first release that doesn’t hide the flaws of their once seamless amalgamation; what remains is an album burdened by an undue weight placed upon it that is heading in the surprising direction of radio-friendly.
Easing into an easy A Day to Remember banger, the albums opener ‘Brick Wall’ was curated purely for arenas. The melodic yet aggressive track, which is driven purely by its alla breve drums, lacks in everything else as it follows a basic, lamenting chord progression. The punchy single may be catchy and well-produced but heading into a more radio-friendly sound has truly caught up with this one. There’s not much standing out about it.
Continuing the trait of fun but forgettable pop-rock tracks, a theme which defines a lot of this record, tracks ‘F.Y.M’ and ‘High Diving’ make the cut. The Police inspired ‘F.Y.M’ touches on paying your dues and how your dreams can get in the way of it all over an ’80s-inspired melodic intro whereas the mid-tempo rocker ‘High Diving’, expresses the everyday stresses of life and the importance of self-care when it all gets too much. Lyrically, McKinnon showcases these messages well as, in ‘High Diving’, he sings: “There’s a weight inside my head/ Like a cannon firing from both ends/ The static I’m drowning in/ Seems like it never ends,” yet they are overlooked by their production or lack thereof.
Known for excelling at a fusion of aggression and melodic sensibility, the hypnotic elegance of ‘Resentment’ and ‘Permanent’ puts such tracks in the spotlight. The synth-led verses in ‘Resentment’ blow up into soaring riff-driven choruses while the punchy ‘Permanent’ feels gritty and grungy. While not groundbreaking, both tracks flawlessly intermingle an electronic sound with the bands usual harder edge that builds to a well-earned breakdown; may best encapsulate what the band had aimed for throughout the record despite getting lost amid the rest of the tracks.
Struggling to find a cohesive theme throughout the record with each track sporting a different sound, it appears to fall on the mass resentment that people pass on to one another. The albums lead single, ‘Degenerates’, highlights this best as the glossy pop-punk track, with a cheerleader-like chorus, is insanely catchy and sure to be great live.
While ‘You’re Welcome’ may elicit mixed feelings from long-term fans, there’s no denying it has its fair share of bangers. From ‘Resentment’ to ‘Degenerates’, these tracks are reminiscent of the bands previous works and such moments will isolate those who are more appreciative of that sound. Removing the weight of prolonged expectation, ‘You’re Welcome’ opens up new possibilities for A Day to Remember as it reaches out to a broader audience by being their most radio-friendly record to date; although it may not be anywhere close to their best, fans will find something loveable, even if they have to look a little harder than they had initially hoped.
A Day to Remember’s seventh album ‘You’re Welcome’ is out now.
3/5