Awaken I Am // Blind Love [Album Review]

BehindTheSceneOfficial
Oct 22, 2017
2 min read

Band: Awaken I Am

Release: Blind Love

Area: Brisbane

Date of release: 29/09/17

Genre: Alternative Melodic Rock/Electronica

Reviewer: Michael Dixon

For Fans Of: PVRIS, From First to Last, Acrasia

“Blind Love” is the sophomore album from this Brisbane-based Alternative Melodic Rock band. It’s been two years since the release of their debut album “Shields & Crowns”, it seems that the boys in Awaken I Am have matured and grown as musicians. The post-hardcore rhythms have gone and been replaced by softer, more melodic touches and experimental synths and beats. There are plenty of catchy, laid-back guitar riffs and punchy sing-a-long choruses to be found here, particularly on the singles 'Blind Love' and 'Black Dreams'.

Lyrically, the themes on Blind Love are stronger and more focused. Lead vocalist Adam Douglas touches on dealing with regret and past mistakes (Walk My Way), dysfunctional relationships (Red Wine, Regret), self-blame (The Chase), depression and losing a sense of self (Black Dreams), anxiety and uncertainties (Hindsight), being misunderstood (Distant, Distance) and cutting the cord with fake friends and things that hold you back or no longer serve you (Wolves). There is a huge degree of honesty and reflections on painful life experiences which the band have obviously overcome.

Blind Love is a very bold and powerful album as the boys have taken some creative risks in producing a more highly polished and cohesive record compared to their previous work. Taylor Larson’s (Asking Alexandria, Periphery, From First to Last) high quality production, engineering and mixing is very much evident here, giving the record some extra bounce and fiery energy. From gorgeous strings on 'The Chase' to elegant, minimalist synths and clapping on 'Distant, Distance', the band have expanded their musical palette and pushed the boundaries of their sound which is great to see.

Vocals: 9/10

Guitars: 8.5/10

Bass: 8/10

Drums: 8/10

Lyrics: 9/10

Songwriting: 7.5/10

Mixing: 8.5/10

Replayability: 7.5/10

Songwriting Integrity : 8/10

Complexity: 8/10

Overall: 81/100

Personal Enjoyment: 8/10