At The Skylines – ‘The Secrets To Life’ [Album Review]

At the band’s show at the Annex Wreckroom while on tour with Letlive and Enter Shikari, I was lucky enough to pick up this album exactly a month before its release. I had already heard all of the pre-released tracks, and even though each of those songs managed to combine the mesmerizing melodic singing of Chris Shelly with the wide range of Mark Barela’s unclean vocals, I was still nervous to see how the overall album would play out.

I was not disappointed. In fact, I haven’t enjoyed an album as much as this one since Asking Alexandria came out with Stand up and Scream in 2009. Shelly’s voice is impossible to compare to any of the genre’s recognized singers because it’s so unique. Barela’s growls and screams are so vast and varied that you feel the band has three screamers working together.

That being said, you can take those elements out and have a great time rocking out just the same. The changes in pace, volume, melody and tone strike you like no band before. Parts of the music make you want to punch a child in the face, and others just make you want to sing and dance like a drunk moron; even if you’re as straightedge as Beau Bokan. The only disappointing thing was knowing how long it would be before I got to see them live again.

Track Listing:

01. Hush (3:37)
02. It’s Cherried (3:49)
03. Shady Dreamin’ (3:13)
04. 143 Princess (3:05)
05. Let’s Burn This (3:58)
06. Turbulence (3:28)
07. Chapter 7 (3:49)
08. The Amazing Atom (3:31)
09. Clear Eyes, Full Hearts (2:49)
10. Forgiveness (4:03)
11. White Whale (3:17)
12. Try Harder (3:38)

Run Time: 32:17
Release Date: May 8, 2012

Check out the song: “Shady Dreamin'”