From Parts Unknown
Every Time I Die
Released by Epitaph Records
Every Time I Die’s latest album is an indisputable banger. From Parts Unknown officially drops on July 1 and its release will mark the seventh behemoth album these Buffalo, N.Y. boys have unleashed upon our world.
The name of the album is derived from the fictitious homeland of recently deceased professional wrestler, The Ultimate Warrior. Upon listening however, it is apparent that the title is more than an homage to the colourful, body-slamming powerhouse. Rather, the name is reflective of the nature of Every Time I Die’s latest work, specifically in the sense that every song on the album seems to come at you from some new shadow in the collective mind of the band.
This feat is accomplished with tracks like “Moor” and “Old Light.” “Moor” is a haunting and heavy epic that opens with isolated notes coming forth from a grand piano. Tension builds to a deafening apex whereby vocalist Keith Buckley and the piano are joined by the rest of the band resulting in an overwhelming wave of raw noise.
“Old Light” is a welcomed change in Every Time I Die’s sound, if only for the presence of Gaslight Anthem’s Brian Fallon. A surprise feature on the album, Fallon’s smooth voice culminates with Buckley’s atop a mountain of swinging riffs provided by guitarists Andy Williams and Jordan Buckley.
For the most part however, From Parts Unknown does not stray far from Every Time I Die’s iconic sound. Their take on metal and hardcore has been honed over the years to provide fans with something both fresh and recognizable with each new release.
This is felt strongest on the album’s first single “Thirst.” The thrash riffs throughout the song are reminiscent of tracks from their 2008 album Hot Damn!. The progress and relative stasis of Every Time I Die’s sound shows that while they may have aged over the years, they are still the same chaotic boys they were some ten years ago.
What it comes down to is that whether you saw Every Time I Die at a Buffalo house show in the early 2000s or whether you just came across the devilishly crude video for their new single “Decayin With The Boys,” From Parts Unknown will make you want to head bang, chug a 40-ounce and choke-slam your best friend through a table—and not necessarily in that order.
