Summary:The fourth full-length release for the British metalcore band is its first with new vocalist Denis Stoff, who took over after Danny Worsnop left the band in 2015.
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Record Label:Sumerian Records
Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Post-Hardcore, Heavy Metal, Screamo
With The Black, Asking Alexandria have made the album that they've always wanted to make. Which also happens to be the album fans have always wanted to hear. [19 Mar 2016, p.66]
The elephant in the room though, is new vocalist Denis Stoff, and the questions over his ability to replace a gifted albeit difficult frontman. Largely, his quest is a triumphant one, and he turns in an admirable performance.
Worsnop may be gone, but the rage channeled into The Black has helped the group lift themselves back onto their feet, showing they are more than capable of carrying on without him.
OMFG!!!
AA had an extreme change with this new album.
Him there gives Denis's powerful voice young woman wing band a sound mas, loudly andOMFG!!!
AA had an extreme change with this new album.
Him there gives Denis's powerful voice young woman wing band a sound mas, loudly and in turn newly for this musical kind.
In my opinion, I am charmed with it.…Expand
Ok, This is not the Danny Worsnop voice or something like that, But, lyricly and Voccaly,This is a Big F*cking Awasome album
But, TheOk, This is not the Danny Worsnop voice or something like that, But, lyricly and Voccaly,This is a Big F*cking Awasome album
But, The explosive sound get's lost in a moments in the song "Here I Am", But, Gets back with "Undivided"…Expand
At first, I had my doubts about this album. But in retrospect, it's a timeless masterpiece that I find myself regularly going back to.At first, I had my doubts about this album. But in retrospect, it's a timeless masterpiece that I find myself regularly going back to. Juxtaposing it to their newest disaster of an album, it's absolutely incredible.
10/10…Expand
It's hard when a band goes through a change in lead singers. Not just for the fans either. The rest of the band has to come to terms withIt's hard when a band goes through a change in lead singers. Not just for the fans either. The rest of the band has to come to terms with losing someone they were close to and finding a new sound to suit the new vocalist. However in the case of Asking Alexandria Denis Stoff makes things as easy possible for both the bands and the fans. He shows that the loss of Danny Worsnop isn't going to affect the music in any negative way.
Stoff's vocal range is impressive. Some of his screams even give the album a sound that resembles the band's 2009 debut "Stand Up and Scream." The instrumentals capture the sound of the band's later works, making "The Black" feel like a culmination of everything the band has tried up until this point. What a culmination it is.
This is some of the most exciting metalcore to come out in a long time. It's emotional, violent, and all around incredible. The band has lost none of it's steam and instead return with increased enthusiasm and passion. The power is real and lyrics are great. Especially when tackling the topic of their feelings for Worsnop.
Danny Worsnop was no doubt crucial to this band's success up until this point. His contributions will always be remembered as part of what got this band started in the first place. Yet Denis Stoff proves ready to take up the torch and lead this band to new places. Potentially higher ones. With an incredible vocal range and the rest of the talented band being ready to move on the future looks brighter than ever for them. They certainly delivered an amazing album to show just that.
We'll Be OK would be a great way to end the album, but instead, they choose to close this project with Undivided and Circled By The Wolves,We'll Be OK would be a great way to end the album, but instead, they choose to close this project with Undivided and Circled By The Wolves, which aren't that good.…Expand
With 'The Black', Asking Alexandria not only tries to recapture their sound from half a decade ago (poorly) but does so whilst childishlyWith 'The Black', Asking Alexandria not only tries to recapture their sound from half a decade ago (poorly) but does so whilst childishly slandering their previous frontman every step of the way. As a replacement vocalist, Denis does a decent job capturing the clean voice of a debut album Danny Worsnop, but an awful one at most else. Extremely limited range as far as harsh vocals, coupled with his live performance being weak, and laced with back-tracking (of Danny's voice) highlights this. As he's shown in Make Me Famous (I mean that name...,c'mon) and Down & Dirty, he just isn't capable of mature songwriting and is not the caliber of musician that AA needed at the time. Instrumentally the band had taken a step back with less impressive guitar work, and a bigger focus on the chugfest that propelled them into stardom. With inspirational lyrics like literally spelling out **** you", and innovative musicianship like copy-pasting riffs from earlier albums, it's easy to see why Danny is back, and why their self-titled will take its place as the king of their discography.…Expand
I could begin this review with a long rant about Asking Alexandria’s career and discography, but to be entirely honest, that just isn’tI could begin this review with a long rant about Asking Alexandria’s career and discography, but to be entirely honest, that just isn’t necessary. All you really need to know is that they went from being a bizarre, “crabcore” band in the vein of Attack! Attack! (Stand Up and Scream) to a generic Bullet For My Valentine clone (Reckless and Relentless) to a slightly less generic BFMV clone (From Death to Destiny). Then, their vocalist Danny Worsnop ended up ditching the band for a different project, leading them to pick up Denis Stoff as their replacement. Now, in 2016, Asking Alexandria have released their first full-length LP since Worsnop’s departure, titled The Black, and it ultimately ends up being an average metalcore album from an average band.…Expand
