"G’day mate! How are you going? Grab your togs and the Esky coz’ there’s this fair dinkum Aussie band we have to check out this arvo, so crack open the XXXX and let’s fuckin’ rock ya bogan!" Now that I’ve likely offended a lot of you stereo-typically because let’s be honest, you re-read that sentence with an accent, let’s get serious for a moment…in case you hadn’t realised we’re going to be talking about an Australian band and coincidentally, it was recently Australia Day, so that’s a nice segway. We’re going to be looking at a band by the name of TONIGHT ALIVE…formed in Sydney in 2008, the 4-piece (Consisting of vocalist Jenna McDougal, guitarist Jake Hardy, bassist Cameron Adler and drummer Matt Best) have always had natural comparisons to PARAMORE but they rightfully ignore that (Let’s be honest any group with a female vocalist post-“Riot!” was influenced by Paramore…right?) and so-far in their 10 year run they’ve always done their own thing. They’ve recently released a brand new album by the name of “Underworld”…so, get ya’ thongs on mate we’re going down under!
The album gets underway with “Book Of Love” and we’re met with some low-key electronica…the softness of it allows for a very ambient vibe and it’s rich in harmony, before it erupts into this bold, confident chorus, Jenna belts this one out and musically this is something fans of ANAVAE would lap up, a lovely start this…before we keep the quality coming with lead single “Temple”. The guitar is more prominent here for the most part adding an extra level of grit and weight, giving the track a more serious tone initially, but again it bursts into this massive, up-tempo chorus and it’s truly infectious…structurally it’s a 50/50 track but it works really well and it’s a definite album highlight.
There is a bit of a theme that runs through this album and it’s evident in tracks such as “The Other”…another up-beat, modern pop-rock anthem in every sense of the word, it’s got all the hooks, the intensity and massive chorus, likewise with “Just For Now”…Jenna’s got some powerful vocals when she gets going and again they ramp up the melody and throw this massive groove-laden chorus at the listener, they’ve nailed it on this record it has to be said, with really enjoyably choruses and hooks spread thoroughly across this whole album like a dollop of Vegemite…and their softer offerings aren’t bad too either! Closing track “My Underworld” is a wonderful collaboration with SLIPKNOT / STONE SOUR vocalist Corey Taylor and here he’s allowed to showcase his impressive clean vocals in a wonderful little duet, while “Looking For Heaven” is a quaint albeit soppy piano ballad. If there are any faults with this album, surprisingly it’s “Disappear”…featuring Lynn Gunn from PVRIS, it’s here you expect to be blown away with a dual-assault, bombastic, electronic pop-rock masterpiece given both of their strengths as front-women but, it’s really rather tame and a bit of a wasted opportunity. Other than that it’s a solid album from start to finish and well worth the listen…wherever you are in the world, tonight is very much alive…carpe noctem and all that. [8]
The album gets underway with “Book Of Love” and we’re met with some low-key electronica…the softness of it allows for a very ambient vibe and it’s rich in harmony, before it erupts into this bold, confident chorus, Jenna belts this one out and musically this is something fans of ANAVAE would lap up, a lovely start this…before we keep the quality coming with lead single “Temple”. The guitar is more prominent here for the most part adding an extra level of grit and weight, giving the track a more serious tone initially, but again it bursts into this massive, up-tempo chorus and it’s truly infectious…structurally it’s a 50/50 track but it works really well and it’s a definite album highlight.
There is a bit of a theme that runs through this album and it’s evident in tracks such as “The Other”…another up-beat, modern pop-rock anthem in every sense of the word, it’s got all the hooks, the intensity and massive chorus, likewise with “Just For Now”…Jenna’s got some powerful vocals when she gets going and again they ramp up the melody and throw this massive groove-laden chorus at the listener, they’ve nailed it on this record it has to be said, with really enjoyably choruses and hooks spread thoroughly across this whole album like a dollop of Vegemite…and their softer offerings aren’t bad too either! Closing track “My Underworld” is a wonderful collaboration with SLIPKNOT / STONE SOUR vocalist Corey Taylor and here he’s allowed to showcase his impressive clean vocals in a wonderful little duet, while “Looking For Heaven” is a quaint albeit soppy piano ballad. If there are any faults with this album, surprisingly it’s “Disappear”…featuring Lynn Gunn from PVRIS, it’s here you expect to be blown away with a dual-assault, bombastic, electronic pop-rock masterpiece given both of their strengths as front-women but, it’s really rather tame and a bit of a wasted opportunity. Other than that it’s a solid album from start to finish and well worth the listen…wherever you are in the world, tonight is very much alive…carpe noctem and all that. [8]
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