Well, we've made it to the final album, 2012's Live Till You Die. This has been an incredible ride. Thanks for sticking with me. Continue to support indie artists. It's hard to find an audience, believe me. But, like Elvis said when asked if he felt threatened by The Beatles, "There's room for everybody."
Our lineup's been juggled again. Kevin, Dan, and Casey remain at the core. I haven't given much attention to the revolving bass players. When they don't distract, they're doing their job. Toby Revelle is no different this time around as he thumps along.
Like Ryan Eibling on Find a Way, Andy Crowley does an amazing job behind the drum kit. He's a technical genius, like Ryan, and also keeps impeccable time. Maybe he's not trying to prove he's better than the other two. Who cares? Nothing wrong with that. Paul McCartney was always competing with John Lennon. We wouldn't have "Hey Jude" if he wasn't. (Shit, that's two Beatles references, and I'm only a few paragraphs in!)
High-octane rocker "Hurt Locker" opens the album and lets us know these guys aren't messing around. They're taking a stand. They're the guys who lay down and die. Or is it the Gods who do? I don't have lyrics this time, so I'm deciphering on my own, but make no mistake about it: The Furnace is out to rock the house with this disc, and they never disappoint. It's as metal as anything they've offered. The riffs alternate under scorching vocals that lead into a blissful electric solo, heavy as fuck.
By the time we get to "21 Guns," the best song on the album, our asses are sufficiently kicked. This radio-friendly father's tribute to his son lost at war includes a mournful dedication as part of the catchy refrain. The keyboard break seeps into graveyard visuals as we hail fallen soldiers returning home to the glorious tribute they deserve. The guitar solo shoots off like explosive artillery while the drums play a rolling taps. Kevin's vocals drown us in sorrow over a bluesy lead that drives the coda. An outright masterpiece.
"Scars Left Behind," a headbanger reminiscent of Alice in Chains, includes riffs and drums sounding off in machine gun fashion as the album continues to punish us with military imagery. The transitions march between verses, leaving us assaulted by Kevin's relentless shouts. The guitar, a mixture of alternate picking and tapping, shreds as the drums hammer. Kevin's painful scream fittingly ends the piece.
The title track "Live Till You Die" has an infectious rhythm that slides through the verses and shoots the chorus into your head. This hard rocker has a solid rhythm and vibrant vocals, proving pop metal is old hat to these seasoned veterans.
"Hang On (Breezy's Song)," the first of two very personal tracks on the album, starts with a pensive acoustic melded into gentle drums until Kevin arrives on scene tearing out our hearts. Kevin impresses on this track more than any other as front man for The Furnace because of his ability to make these lyrics his own. He pleas as if for his own child, building up a passionate delivery until he grits his teeth at the end, begging us all to hang on. What an amazing performance! The lead guitar climbs an emotional ladder between verses until the music drops out for an acoustic break, leaving us all breathless.
"External (For You)," a gut-wrenching instrumental, fuses Casey and Dan's trademark guitar playing. Again, we don't need to know who's picking up the leads where. They blend bluesy Duane Eddy and Stevie Ray Vaughn licks with classic metal runs that recall Eddie Van Halen in his prime. I know who this song is for, and I can tell you I miss her every day. I'm grateful for The Furnace for including this track. Throughout their entire run, they've never been afraid to the share their personal lives with us. They're always transparent and vulnerable. We've witnessed their life's journeys for over ten years and watched them grow as artists and people. They've told us what they love and warned us of everything they fear. Their lessons should not be overlooked.
There are 13 songs on this album, so now that I've discussed specific tracks, let me highlight those that didn't get coverage. "Forgive Me" opens with a groovy riff, drops into heavy power chords, and rides a sizzling metal solo. "My Last Day," a Beatles-inspired ballad (yeah, I know three references, just shut up), complete with Kevin's classic vocal pleas during a captivating refrain. "Change," haunts us with a Sabbath riff reminiscent of 13, their swan song, a year prior to that release. "New Sun," "Live Forever," and "Monster," uptempo rockers that kick ass. The Nirvana-sounding "Illusion" opens with Kevin's best Hootie in contrast to the earth-shaking rock shouts we've all grown to love. Sounds like heavier Candlebox (think "Far Behind" or "Cover Me") with a melodic guitar solo to close.
Overall, I'm impressed with how The Furnace continued to evolve throughout their career. This is their hardest rocking, heaviest metal album of all. A fitting end to a remarkable run. My favorite two remain Words I Never Said and Find A Way, appropriate that Kevin and Dave each have a place. Just because I like lists, I'll give you my favorite ten songs. I didn't choose any songs that are personal (like the one I co-wrote, for instance) because I wanted this to be totally objective.
1. "21 Guns"
2. "Look Down Upon Me"
3. "Find a Way"
4. "Bury My Bones"
5. "Over Again"
6. "Don't Turn Away"
7. "Comfort"
8. "Killer Inside"
9. "Make Me Bleed"
10. "Simple Things"
You can find Live Till You Die on Amazon for only $9.99 or live-stream the album for free on Spotify.
Next week, a surprise, as I'll review On the Edge by Rush To War, my brother Danny's follow-up hard rock band. Thanks for being here.
Like Ryan Eibling on Find a Way, Andy Crowley does an amazing job behind the drum kit. He's a technical genius, like Ryan, and also keeps impeccable time. Maybe he's not trying to prove he's better than the other two. Who cares? Nothing wrong with that. Paul McCartney was always competing with John Lennon. We wouldn't have "Hey Jude" if he wasn't. (Shit, that's two Beatles references, and I'm only a few paragraphs in!)
High-octane rocker "Hurt Locker" opens the album and lets us know these guys aren't messing around. They're taking a stand. They're the guys who lay down and die. Or is it the Gods who do? I don't have lyrics this time, so I'm deciphering on my own, but make no mistake about it: The Furnace is out to rock the house with this disc, and they never disappoint. It's as metal as anything they've offered. The riffs alternate under scorching vocals that lead into a blissful electric solo, heavy as fuck.
By the time we get to "21 Guns," the best song on the album, our asses are sufficiently kicked. This radio-friendly father's tribute to his son lost at war includes a mournful dedication as part of the catchy refrain. The keyboard break seeps into graveyard visuals as we hail fallen soldiers returning home to the glorious tribute they deserve. The guitar solo shoots off like explosive artillery while the drums play a rolling taps. Kevin's vocals drown us in sorrow over a bluesy lead that drives the coda. An outright masterpiece.
"Scars Left Behind," a headbanger reminiscent of Alice in Chains, includes riffs and drums sounding off in machine gun fashion as the album continues to punish us with military imagery. The transitions march between verses, leaving us assaulted by Kevin's relentless shouts. The guitar, a mixture of alternate picking and tapping, shreds as the drums hammer. Kevin's painful scream fittingly ends the piece.
The title track "Live Till You Die" has an infectious rhythm that slides through the verses and shoots the chorus into your head. This hard rocker has a solid rhythm and vibrant vocals, proving pop metal is old hat to these seasoned veterans.
"Hang On (Breezy's Song)," the first of two very personal tracks on the album, starts with a pensive acoustic melded into gentle drums until Kevin arrives on scene tearing out our hearts. Kevin impresses on this track more than any other as front man for The Furnace because of his ability to make these lyrics his own. He pleas as if for his own child, building up a passionate delivery until he grits his teeth at the end, begging us all to hang on. What an amazing performance! The lead guitar climbs an emotional ladder between verses until the music drops out for an acoustic break, leaving us all breathless.
"External (For You)," a gut-wrenching instrumental, fuses Casey and Dan's trademark guitar playing. Again, we don't need to know who's picking up the leads where. They blend bluesy Duane Eddy and Stevie Ray Vaughn licks with classic metal runs that recall Eddie Van Halen in his prime. I know who this song is for, and I can tell you I miss her every day. I'm grateful for The Furnace for including this track. Throughout their entire run, they've never been afraid to the share their personal lives with us. They're always transparent and vulnerable. We've witnessed their life's journeys for over ten years and watched them grow as artists and people. They've told us what they love and warned us of everything they fear. Their lessons should not be overlooked.
There are 13 songs on this album, so now that I've discussed specific tracks, let me highlight those that didn't get coverage. "Forgive Me" opens with a groovy riff, drops into heavy power chords, and rides a sizzling metal solo. "My Last Day," a Beatles-inspired ballad (yeah, I know three references, just shut up), complete with Kevin's classic vocal pleas during a captivating refrain. "Change," haunts us with a Sabbath riff reminiscent of 13, their swan song, a year prior to that release. "New Sun," "Live Forever," and "Monster," uptempo rockers that kick ass. The Nirvana-sounding "Illusion" opens with Kevin's best Hootie in contrast to the earth-shaking rock shouts we've all grown to love. Sounds like heavier Candlebox (think "Far Behind" or "Cover Me") with a melodic guitar solo to close.
Overall, I'm impressed with how The Furnace continued to evolve throughout their career. This is their hardest rocking, heaviest metal album of all. A fitting end to a remarkable run. My favorite two remain Words I Never Said and Find A Way, appropriate that Kevin and Dave each have a place. Just because I like lists, I'll give you my favorite ten songs. I didn't choose any songs that are personal (like the one I co-wrote, for instance) because I wanted this to be totally objective.
1. "21 Guns"
2. "Look Down Upon Me"
3. "Find a Way"
4. "Bury My Bones"
5. "Over Again"
6. "Don't Turn Away"
7. "Comfort"
8. "Killer Inside"
9. "Make Me Bleed"
10. "Simple Things"
You can find Live Till You Die on Amazon for only $9.99 or live-stream the album for free on Spotify.
Next week, a surprise, as I'll review On the Edge by Rush To War, my brother Danny's follow-up hard rock band. Thanks for being here.
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