Label: Rise

Emo-rock boys From First To Last are back with their fourth highly anticipated studio album, Throne To The Wolves, an impressive effort that marks the band’s long-awaited return. This latest full length is a significant departure from the band’s typical emo sound, bringing heavier guitars and some electronic experimentation. Their second release since the departure of original frontman Sonny Moore, Throne To The Wolves sees the band developing a heavier, darker sound with a different lyrical direction. In fact, upon hearing this album it’s hard to even identify them as the same band that put out 2004’s Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count.

At first listen the album is a little underwhelming, with a lot of similar sounding tracks and unsophisticated lyrics. Lacking in the emotional poetry present on the bands first few albums (while the band was fronted by Sonny Moore), the lyrics are straightforward and lacking in any real depth. A good part of the album is spent basically whining about the scene, and while the musical sound has matured, the content certainly hasn’t. The music itself is great; experimenting into a more melodic hardcore sound with some interesting electronic elements makes for some great tracks like “Grits” and “Going Lohan”. The problem is that the themes and lyrics are uninteresting, and often childish. Lacking any real emotion or passion, hearing Matt Good complaining about the music industry, the scene and women for an entire album is a little bit tiring. It’s hard to see any appeal here for the old fans.

After a few listens, the musical depth of Throne To The Wolves might be its saving grace. It is a solid album with some decent tracks, and the overall sound is noticeably more technical and intricate than the band’s earlier efforts. Far from the emo icons From First to Last used to be, Throne To The Wolves sees them maturing into a richer, less mainstream sound. A rich mess of electronica, heavy guitars and thrashy drums, the album does see the band heading in a very interesting musical direction. Whether this works or not, though, is questionable. Lacking the honest emotional depth that made the band popular in the first place, this album will either see the band head in a better direction, or it may be the metaphorical digging of From First To Last’s grave.

By Lucy Valentine