First Person: My Favorite Album of 2011 -- Reckless and Relentless by Asking Alexandria

Asking Alexandria's 2011 album, Reckless and Relentless, came out nearly two years after their debut studio album, Stand Up and Scream. Although Reckless and Relentless is a bit "lighter" than their previous album, Asking Alexandria shows they still thrash the metalcore with their new release, and my favorite album of 2011. WARNING: This album is not for the feint of heart if you are sensitive to language issues.

I first heard of Asking Alexandria through my son, Kye Wright, guitarist for the metal band Empirian. Something about their song The Final Episode (Let's Change the Channel) stuck with me.

Although I don't really like when metal bands use only the deep voiced singing that is reminiscent of demon voices portrayed in the movies, singer Danny Worsnop doesn't solely use that style in the songs. I don't mind the screaming style in metal music, and Asking Alexandria uses a blend, the deep voice, the screaming, and regular voiced singing in their songs.

The music is interspersed with orchestration making for a richer and fuller musical experience. Within some of the songs there are quieter, mellow spots that seem almost sweet compared to the rest of the music. I like this dichotomy within the same songs when it occurs.

The album Reckless and Relentless begins with orchestration leading into a full-on metal onslaught with the songs "Welcome" and "Dear Insanity". The rhythm is tight and often syncopated so you're left feeling a little off-centered with some of the music. For me, this makes for a great listening experience not listening to the same old basic rhythms and beats all the time.

The next songs "Closure" and "A Lesson Never Learned" have lighter sections of keyboard within. "To the Stage" has an almost punk beat to it but is still thrashing metal.

"Dedication" is just that, music with the singer speaking the words. "Someone, Somewhere" and "Breathless" have almost an updated '80s feel. "The Match", "Another Bottle Down" and "Reckless and Relentless" thrash to the core.

On nearly every album, there's a song I just don't care for, either due to lyrics or the music. Though I really like the sound and music for "Morte et Dabo", I'm not really too fond of the words as they can be construed in different ways. I am a spiritual person, and the lyrics could be good if applied to a self-righteous person rather than a spiritual being. I think I'll look at it that way so I can like this song as well.

Next are three remixes, "The Final Episode", "A Candlelilt Dinner with Inamorta" and "A Prophecy". "The Final Episode" is my favorite song by Asking Alexandria, though I prefer the original to the remix.
Although metal isn't my favorite genre of music, I really like the fuller sound of this style of metal making Reckless and Relentless my favorite album of 2011 . Asking Alexandria may just be the new definition and new face of metalcore.

FURTHER READING:

Asking Alexandria; Reckless and Relentless; amazon.com; http://www.amazon.com/Reckless-Relentless-Asking-Alexandria/dp/B004O1PZB0/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1307786165&sr=1-1

Asking Alexandria; http://www.askingalexandriaofficial.com/

Jolynne M Hudnell; Interview with Empirian Guitarist, Kye Wright; Associated Content; http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2394756/interview_with_empirian_guitarist_kye.html