Review by Andy Hawes for MPM
I had the pleasure of reviewing the original version of this monumentally heavy slice of Modern Hard Rock almost two years ago and here we have the Deluxe version which adds nine new tracks to the original album.
I won’t repeat everything I said about the original album here, other than to reiterate that it is an absolute beast of an album chock full of extraordinarily heavy music that one moment is providing Daughtry-esque melodies with very clear and obvious Pop influences, the next, Linkin Park style rapped vocal lines and the next full on Metal breakdowns with growled and screamed vocals adding to the cacophonous roar that eviscerates, annihilates and takes absolutely no prisoners whatsoever. I was particularly impressed with the way that the songs are written and arranged and the way that the diverse elements all come together to create something very special indeed and, listening back again two years later, I remain hugely impressed.
So, what do the extra nine tracks add to this colossal behemoth of an album? Well, the first of the new tracks, ‘Hanging on to Thunder (Feat Stand Atlantic – solo version)’ is a fabulous track combining all of the most Pop influences with some huge guitars and orchestration on a track that isn’t a million miles away from what Chris Daughtry was doing on his early albums. It’s certainly not as heavy as some of the material on the original album and is perhaps not quite as innovative in its arrangements and production, but that said it is an excellent track that would make a very good single.
Next up is ‘Made for the Misery (REVISED)’ which is another slice of visceral Modern Hard Rock with an extremely catchy chorus and clever use of orchestral electronica to add layers of interest to the choruses. This one features another growled and super-heavy breakdown which adds another layer of interest and excitement to a brilliant track that, like much of the original album, combines melody and brutality to great effect.
‘Home’ starts off gently with atmospheric vocals and sound effects before the cacophonous guitars and drums burst in, leading to a hugely melodic chug-fest with another absolute Metal maelstrom of a breakdown. Once again, and as with the original album, I am reminded how integral to the overall sound the drum arrangements are on these tracks. The way they change the patterns and drive the sound is absolutely killer. This track contains the most amazing dynamic shifts from the quiet Pop to thunderous Modern Metal and back again and all in the blink of an eye. Stunning!
‘Because of You’ is more of the same, with another monumentally catchy hookline, machine-gun double-bass drumming and clever, catchy guitar riffing. In fact, so catchy is the chorus hook that this would make a brilliant single.
It is followed by ‘All I Need is Hope’ which once again uses clever dynamic shifts to create and explode tension in the best Bad Wolves tradition. They really are masters of that kinda thing!
‘Say It Again’ features a cool guest appearance from The Rasmus and is another track that moves from dense walls of pulverizing guitar to quiet, introspective passages and back again, with orchestral keys trying hard to battle their way through the packed mix. Sadly, the mix here has a couple of ‘muddy’ moments to my ears, where the denseness of the wall of guitars overpowers the other stuff just a tad too much for my liking. But it’s a minor niggle as everything else that makes Bad Wolves a great band is here in spades.
Next up is ‘Legends Never Die (Orchestral Version). In its original incarnation I compared it to a more complex Nickelback with Linkin Park elements adding to its brilliance. Here, it is a quite beautiful ballad with the orchestra and choir adding just the right amount of bombast to the vocal and piano combination. It really is quite brilliant having this track here, as it provides a welcome respite from the savage and cacophonous roar that has gone before. Light and shade of the very best kind!
The Deluxe version of the album ends with two live versions of tracks elsewhere on the original album. First up is ‘Bad Friend’ which sounds utterly savage in the live incarnation, the guitars in particular cutting huge swathes through the mix. It’s a very full live sound and is completely unstoppable, as well as being tight as the proverbial tightest thing! Very impressive indeed!
The final track is the live version of ‘Legends Never Die’ which sounds every bit as awesome as you’d expect and hope. Bad Wolves can clearly deliver this stuff live and then some!
So, is it worth getting this Deluxe Version of Die About It? Well, if you didn’t check it out on the basis of my previous review, please make sure you do now! I’m not normally a fan of the very heaviest music but even I absolutely LOVE what Bad Wolves do with their sound.
The original album is, to me, a masterpiece, and this deluxe version simply adds more great songs to an already superb album. It’s a shame that they didn’t have enough new tracks to make a full new album, but certainly these new songs are well worth hearing and perhaps really give the listener the full picture of what the band is all about. Still as awesome as it ever was, just with more songs on it!
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