The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, October 21, 2005, Page 8, Image 8
Band gets angry with ‘Determination’
Story of the Years latest release attracts open-minded music fans
Adam Carter
FOR THE GAMECOCK
★★★★★ out of ☆☆☆☆☆'
Story of the Year’s new album
“In the Wake of Determination”
is an angry conjugation of metal
riffs, hardcore vocals, tasteful
instruments and swiff tempo
alterations, all packed around a
core of gut-wrenching lyrics. As
an independent band, Story of
the Year pleads no restrictions
on what it can say In its songs.
The band doesn’t seek much
popular instruction in the
expression of its musical talent,
making the album a rewarding
50-minute encore to the
humdrum manufactured sound
of most rock records sold today.
It begins with an energetic
anthem to individuality that,
guitarist Ryan Phillips says in
the album’s liner notes, was the
product of a fight between him
and his girlfriend. Although the
lyrics are written from a plural
first-person perspective, it would
seem they are from his own
mind. He wants to find himself
through music. The song “We
Don’t Care Anymore” can'Be
understood by anyone who has
suffered from an addiction to
lyrical creativity.
The angst-ridden ode to lost
innocence, “Take Me Back”
follows the story of America’s
beginning, a country scarred by
revolution and knowing the cost
of war. Story of the Year makes
the statement that before the
war people knew that for one
man to kill another in the name
of some noble cause was a
terrible action. Now, the band
says, death is sold on television
everyday in the name of
entertainment. Killing means
nothing to us anymore, the
band says.
The band tries to discredit
some peoples’ superiority in the
science of human destruction by
implying people no longer take
the time to consider whether it
is right to charge into battle.
Story of the Year asks, “What
gives?
In the following songs, the
band urges youth to make
something of their lives, and
then makes a testament to the
pain of alcoholism.
“Stereo,” a protest against
formulaic radio-friendly rock,
speaks direcdy to all generations,
especially those disaffected by
the over-promotion of bands
that add little to the gathering
pool of musical talent. From the
punk-rock generation to
metalheads, hardcore kids and
emo enthusiasts to pop-punk
fans, everyone is looking for a
new sound.
A chain of songs grows
progressively angrier as the end
of the CD approaches, except
for “Sleep,” which,'Ryan says in
the albums liner notes, almost
didn’t make the record. This
song provides a gentle interlude
between the energetic beginning
and the enraged finale.
“March of the Dead,” a song
against the practice of following
tradition and religion without
ever questioning it, paves the
way for “Pay Your Enemy,” a
song written just for the fun of
telling someone off.
“Wake Up The Voiceless,” an
ode to hardcore and metal bands
who have decided to make do
on their own, rounds off the
album and solidifies Story of the
Year’s unwillingness to sell out
for profit.
Story of the Year is not a
“neutral” band such as Stretch
Arm Strong, Relient K and
Further Seems Forever. The
explicit side of the band’s
message, which gets more
evident in the second half of the
album, is one of contempt
toward people who judge others
by a standard of Biblical
holiness.
In the next-to-last song on the
album, ‘“Is This My Fate?’ He
Asked Them,” ends with a
ritardando of drumbeats meant
to evoke feelings of paranoia in
the listener. It is a merciless
tirade against the Biblical
depiction of homosexuality as
the practice of hell-bound
sinners who deny the Creator.
An unbiased review of the
band’s music is hard to come by,
since Story of the Year’s songs
touch on so many difficult
subjects. However, this album is
a work of genius. Story of the
Year has spoken, and whether or
not one agrees with them, the
album deserves appreciation.
The best thing about the
band’s music is that it addresses
life from a mature standpoint.
Story of the Year has no target
audience except all who will hear
them out with an open heart
and an open mind.
Comments on this story? E-mail
gamecockfeatures@gurm.sc.edu
Special to THE GAMECOCK
Story of the Year’s new album “In the Wake of Determination” delivers controversial lyrics.
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