Madina Lake - From Them, Through Us, To You
Genre: Rock / Pop-Punk / Emo / Post Hardcore
This album was released in the UK by the up and coming band, Madina Lake on the 26th March 2007, and a day later in the US. I have the Retail version of the album, which includes the Instrumental first track, along with 3 of the tracks being longer than they are on the advanced version.
The CD is a concept album about the disappearance of a girl called "Adalia". Adalia is a conceptual character the band came up with for their record. She's a girl who's been through tragedies, horrible times in her life, she's desperate and needs to be saved. There are many mysteries, secrets and clues about her disappearance, which are examined through the 12 tracks on this album. There are also some secrets and clues about her disappearance hidden in the Artwork of the cover leaflet, as well as clues in the videos to the singles, which are all closely linked due to this.
Songs
Track 0: "The Auspice" – 2:00
You know the drill here, it's been done many a time; starting off an album with an instrumental track. It's quite a boring instrumental to be honest, and isn't something this album should be started off with at all. The song barely changes throughout, it's way too repetitive even for a 2 minute intro. I'm not expert on instrumentals, but in my opinion this just isn't a good one.
Score: 2/10
Track 1: "Here I Stand" – 3:23
This is where the album really starts. It kicks off with a melodic instrumental of only about 4 seconds, before hitting you in the face with a power intro. A rather heavy guitar riff and mid ranged drum beat. The music slows down for the first half of the first verse, before speeding back up again. Lyrically the song is good, the vocals are excellent and the music supports both of these extremely well. Easily one of the best songs on this album.
Score: 10/10
Track 2: "In Another Life" – 3:11
This song just doesn't cut it really. It's by no means a bad song, but has an essance of "filler" about it, though I've never come across an album without some songs that sound like obvious fillers. This song does get better throughout, with strong vocals and it seems like they've focused this song more on the drums than the guitars. It's still a decent song to rock out to though.
Score: 6/10
Track 3: "Adalia" – 2:31
Adalia is the main focus of the album, it's all about her, so this song has to mean something. It's about being "addicted" to her, and trying to save her. If I may quote some of the lyrics: "And now I'm addicted to her cuz that girl is just like me", "She wraps her tragic moments tightly around her neck, then she hangs herself with them as I try to disconnect". Lyrically, this song is amazing. I mean epically good. For the lyrics to be so deep and meaningful, the song is really fast and not acoustic like you'd expect. (Though they have performed an acousic version which is beautiful). But this song is brilliant.
Score: 10/10
Track 4: "House of Cards" – 3:36
House of Cards was the first single from Madina Lake, and I never really understood why. Again, it's by no means a bad song, but it seems somewhat average when compared with some of the other tracks. However, it just fails to impress me as much as some of the other songs. It's very strange, with odd vocals and weird music throughout.
Score: 7/10
Track 5: "Now or Never" – 4:11
Now or Never is an awesome song. This song is about living life to the full and enjoying every moment. "I remember when you told me, I should live like I'm dying, not to close my eyes while everything burns, what are we waiting for? These years are dying slowly, today is still infront of us, we're breaking out, today is now or never". I'd imagine this is about telling Adalia, as well as the listener, to treasure life. Very good song.
Score: 10/10
Track 6: "Pandora" – 3:24
This song starts off slowly, with a piano used in the beginning and soft vocals. But when the drums kick in this song speeds up and slowly becomes heavier, while never reaching the power of the the other songs. It's really hard to describe this song, so I'll just let you do it yourself.
Score: 7.5/10
Track 7: "Stars" – 3:59
This song is an interesting play on words. Throughout the song he talks about becoming famous, being a "star", but this is not what the song is about. He is equating the concept of being like the stars in the sky "the stars that clear the black of night". It's about loving someone and wanting to take them away, showing them happiness and everything they ever wanted.
Score: 8/10
Track 8: "River People" – 4:27
"River People" seem to be what the residents of "Madina Lake" are called. The song is about the River People's behavior towards Adalia. It's rather slow with the Bass playing the most part of the song, the vocals are nice. But this song can get quite boring.
Score: 6/10
Track 9: "One Last Kiss" – 3:27
One Last Kiss hits you heavy Bass right away, before fading into a more melodic guitar with harmonic vocals. This song is the old cliche song about a girl & boy breaking up. The singing is nice, the music is really cool too. Quite a good song and not that bad of a choice for their 3rd single.
Score: 8.5/10
Track 10: "Me Vs. the World" – 3:08
Now, since Pandora, the album got rather slow and soft compared to the previous songs on the album. But "Me Vs. the World" changes that completely. The meaning behind this song is very strong. As you may or may not know, the Bassist and lead singer in this band are twins. Their mother died when they were only 12 years old, and this song is mainly about missing her and having to go through a large portion of your life with no mother. "Sometimes I try, not to hate myself for everything I never said, when you were here. And so I'm burning up photographs, of what was our perfect past cuz I'm still here." You really need to listen to this song to understand it, it's really touching and you have to feel for the guys. I love this song, the ending is immense. Changing the chorus and ending the song on a high. Best. Song. On. The. Album. "So I look up to the stars and wonder out loud, why everything I've had in life has fallen from my arms. Can you even hear this song? I'm screaming at the clouds, screaming to a galaxy that never cared at all, that I need you here." Very touching.
Score: 10/10
Track 11: "Morning Sadness" – 5:22
This song is again about Nathan and Matthew's mother dying in a car crash when they were young. It's an acoustic song, and Nathan wonders whether if he dies himself, will he meet his mother again in heaven. It's another really touching song, which differs from Me Vs. the Word in one way. The Speed of the song. This song is more melodic and light, seeming to be a calming way of talking about their mother, whereas Me Vs. the World was more about being angry as well as sad.
Score: 8.5/10
Track 12: "True Love" – 6:02
Again, another song about losing the one you love. This song keeps switching from a really quiet verse, to an incredibly loud "Screamo" genre chorus. It's just another cliche song, but it differs from the rest of the album. As the only other song with a creditable amount of screaming is Adalia. Not too bad for a finish though.
Score: 8/10
And that's it. Madina Lake have made an impact, and a great one at that. "Your new Favourite Band" said Kerrang Magazine, and I really have to agree. They are my new favourite band. The album has a great story to tell, and even when not focusing on the subject matter entirely (Adalia) it does relate to her through the fact that they lost their mother. These guys are really about the music, entering the "Fear Factor" competition together in order to raise money to record this CD.
I really don't think you'll not like this album, it's a worthy investment of anyones money. If you like bands of this kind of genre, I suggest you give this a listen. My final rating has to be a 10/10. Epic. But you have to judge for yourself.
Genre: Rock / Pop-Punk / Emo / Post Hardcore
This album was released in the UK by the up and coming band, Madina Lake on the 26th March 2007, and a day later in the US. I have the Retail version of the album, which includes the Instrumental first track, along with 3 of the tracks being longer than they are on the advanced version.
The CD is a concept album about the disappearance of a girl called "Adalia". Adalia is a conceptual character the band came up with for their record. She's a girl who's been through tragedies, horrible times in her life, she's desperate and needs to be saved. There are many mysteries, secrets and clues about her disappearance, which are examined through the 12 tracks on this album. There are also some secrets and clues about her disappearance hidden in the Artwork of the cover leaflet, as well as clues in the videos to the singles, which are all closely linked due to this.
Songs
Track 0: "The Auspice" – 2:00
You know the drill here, it's been done many a time; starting off an album with an instrumental track. It's quite a boring instrumental to be honest, and isn't something this album should be started off with at all. The song barely changes throughout, it's way too repetitive even for a 2 minute intro. I'm not expert on instrumentals, but in my opinion this just isn't a good one.
Score: 2/10
Track 1: "Here I Stand" – 3:23
This is where the album really starts. It kicks off with a melodic instrumental of only about 4 seconds, before hitting you in the face with a power intro. A rather heavy guitar riff and mid ranged drum beat. The music slows down for the first half of the first verse, before speeding back up again. Lyrically the song is good, the vocals are excellent and the music supports both of these extremely well. Easily one of the best songs on this album.
Score: 10/10
Track 2: "In Another Life" – 3:11
This song just doesn't cut it really. It's by no means a bad song, but has an essance of "filler" about it, though I've never come across an album without some songs that sound like obvious fillers. This song does get better throughout, with strong vocals and it seems like they've focused this song more on the drums than the guitars. It's still a decent song to rock out to though.
Score: 6/10
Track 3: "Adalia" – 2:31
Adalia is the main focus of the album, it's all about her, so this song has to mean something. It's about being "addicted" to her, and trying to save her. If I may quote some of the lyrics: "And now I'm addicted to her cuz that girl is just like me", "She wraps her tragic moments tightly around her neck, then she hangs herself with them as I try to disconnect". Lyrically, this song is amazing. I mean epically good. For the lyrics to be so deep and meaningful, the song is really fast and not acoustic like you'd expect. (Though they have performed an acousic version which is beautiful). But this song is brilliant.
Score: 10/10
Track 4: "House of Cards" – 3:36
House of Cards was the first single from Madina Lake, and I never really understood why. Again, it's by no means a bad song, but it seems somewhat average when compared with some of the other tracks. However, it just fails to impress me as much as some of the other songs. It's very strange, with odd vocals and weird music throughout.
Score: 7/10
Track 5: "Now or Never" – 4:11
Now or Never is an awesome song. This song is about living life to the full and enjoying every moment. "I remember when you told me, I should live like I'm dying, not to close my eyes while everything burns, what are we waiting for? These years are dying slowly, today is still infront of us, we're breaking out, today is now or never". I'd imagine this is about telling Adalia, as well as the listener, to treasure life. Very good song.
Score: 10/10
Track 6: "Pandora" – 3:24
This song starts off slowly, with a piano used in the beginning and soft vocals. But when the drums kick in this song speeds up and slowly becomes heavier, while never reaching the power of the the other songs. It's really hard to describe this song, so I'll just let you do it yourself.
Score: 7.5/10
Track 7: "Stars" – 3:59
This song is an interesting play on words. Throughout the song he talks about becoming famous, being a "star", but this is not what the song is about. He is equating the concept of being like the stars in the sky "the stars that clear the black of night". It's about loving someone and wanting to take them away, showing them happiness and everything they ever wanted.
Score: 8/10
Track 8: "River People" – 4:27
"River People" seem to be what the residents of "Madina Lake" are called. The song is about the River People's behavior towards Adalia. It's rather slow with the Bass playing the most part of the song, the vocals are nice. But this song can get quite boring.
Score: 6/10
Track 9: "One Last Kiss" – 3:27
One Last Kiss hits you heavy Bass right away, before fading into a more melodic guitar with harmonic vocals. This song is the old cliche song about a girl & boy breaking up. The singing is nice, the music is really cool too. Quite a good song and not that bad of a choice for their 3rd single.
Score: 8.5/10
Track 10: "Me Vs. the World" – 3:08
Now, since Pandora, the album got rather slow and soft compared to the previous songs on the album. But "Me Vs. the World" changes that completely. The meaning behind this song is very strong. As you may or may not know, the Bassist and lead singer in this band are twins. Their mother died when they were only 12 years old, and this song is mainly about missing her and having to go through a large portion of your life with no mother. "Sometimes I try, not to hate myself for everything I never said, when you were here. And so I'm burning up photographs, of what was our perfect past cuz I'm still here." You really need to listen to this song to understand it, it's really touching and you have to feel for the guys. I love this song, the ending is immense. Changing the chorus and ending the song on a high. Best. Song. On. The. Album. "So I look up to the stars and wonder out loud, why everything I've had in life has fallen from my arms. Can you even hear this song? I'm screaming at the clouds, screaming to a galaxy that never cared at all, that I need you here." Very touching.
Score: 10/10
Track 11: "Morning Sadness" – 5:22
This song is again about Nathan and Matthew's mother dying in a car crash when they were young. It's an acoustic song, and Nathan wonders whether if he dies himself, will he meet his mother again in heaven. It's another really touching song, which differs from Me Vs. the Word in one way. The Speed of the song. This song is more melodic and light, seeming to be a calming way of talking about their mother, whereas Me Vs. the World was more about being angry as well as sad.
Score: 8.5/10
Track 12: "True Love" – 6:02
Again, another song about losing the one you love. This song keeps switching from a really quiet verse, to an incredibly loud "Screamo" genre chorus. It's just another cliche song, but it differs from the rest of the album. As the only other song with a creditable amount of screaming is Adalia. Not too bad for a finish though.
Score: 8/10
And that's it. Madina Lake have made an impact, and a great one at that. "Your new Favourite Band" said Kerrang Magazine, and I really have to agree. They are my new favourite band. The album has a great story to tell, and even when not focusing on the subject matter entirely (Adalia) it does relate to her through the fact that they lost their mother. These guys are really about the music, entering the "Fear Factor" competition together in order to raise money to record this CD.
I really don't think you'll not like this album, it's a worthy investment of anyones money. If you like bands of this kind of genre, I suggest you give this a listen. My final rating has to be a 10/10. Epic. But you have to judge for yourself.
