Summary:The sixth volume of the collection of pop songs by such artists as Beyonce, Ariana Grande, Lorde, Paramore, and Taylor Swift are reinvented into punk by such artists as August Burns Red, Tyler Carter, Crown the Empire, Luke Holland, Palisades, Set It Off, Upon a Burning Body, We Came asThe sixth volume of the collection of pop songs by such artists as Beyonce, Ariana Grande, Lorde, Paramore, and Taylor Swift are reinvented into punk by such artists as August Burns Red, Tyler Carter, Crown the Empire, Luke Holland, Palisades, Set It Off, Upon a Burning Body, We Came as Romans, and Youth In Revolt.…Expand
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Record Label:Fearless Records
Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Post-Hardcore, Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal
The good: Tyler Carter and Luke Holland's performance one-ups YouTube tryhards on Paramore's "Ain't No fun"; Set It Off are naturals at this whole "pop" thing, nailing Adriana Grande's "Problem".... The bad: August Burns Red's cover of Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" tries to make a pp song pissed--it's dated on arrival.... The just plain ridiculous: Upon A Burning Body ft. Ice T covering "Turn Down For What?" [Dec 2014, p.107]
Most of the jams offered come off like this: wasteful and undesirable with heavy riffs, no melody and heavy double-kicking that all combine into an incoherent mess.
Part of the appeal of this series was seeing various metal, metalcore, and post-hardcore bands cover pop songs in their own style. They stayedPart of the appeal of this series was seeing various metal, metalcore, and post-hardcore bands cover pop songs in their own style. They stayed true to their own sound and turned the songs into something new. With this album the bands try hard to come as close to the originals as possible. As a result this project isn't really satisfying.
The only band that actually do a good job at going pop is We Came as Romans. Their cover of Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble" is actually quite good. The rest of the band's that try to go full pop end up sounding to generic. Pop genre loyalists will likely find something to enjoy, but those who enjoy these bands for their original material are likely to be disappointed.
The album is at it's best when the bands take the songs they are covering and transform them to fit the genre they are at home in. August Burns Red's cover of Wrecking Ball stands out as a particular highpoint. Upon a Burning Body and Oceans Ate Alaska's covers are also satisfying as they stay true to the heavy sound the bands are known for. Volumes tries hard to combine the two genres in their cover of "Hold On, We're Going Home," but the results are awkward at best.
A few highlights ultimately won't save the album for everyone. While none of the content is particularly bad outside of Crown the Empire's cover of "Burn," the content here is mixed in quality many will have a hard time picking it up. It's too pop for those who really enjoy these bands, and too hardcore for pop fanatics. The results are an awkward middle ground that lead to an album that is overall disappointing. There's some stuff here worth checking out, but it's one you might want to do at your own risk.…Expand
Manufactured, superfluous, laughable. There is nothing punk about this. For most of the covers, like a McDonalds Happy Meal, there is noManufactured, superfluous, laughable. There is nothing punk about this. For most of the covers, like a McDonalds Happy Meal, there is no deviation from formula and you know fully well what it's going to sound like before you hit "play". The Wrecking Ball cover in particular is laughable.…Expand
