Metalcore has never been my favourite style, far from it, but I thought that AA was one of the better bands. However, these guys have consistently low ratings in MS for all of their releases yet they've managed to make 11 LPs.
Many people (usually non-fans) go through the trouble of shitting on their work without enlightening the rest of us as to why.
Something is wrong here.

I always thought they were pretty mediocre but not outright terrible like alot of similar bands

Written by Vellichor on 25.08.2023 at 21:36

I always thought they were pretty mediocre but not outright terrible like alot of similar bands

How do you explain their longevity?

I don’t think about it tbh, many bands stay very popular while being average. I find it mediocre. Obviously there’s others who like it. I think it’s likely they cater toward the Warped Tour brand of Metalcore that isn’t popular on MS.

I admire the fact they've stuck around for this time, so they must have a fairly strong fan base to keep producing records, but I'm personally not into this/them. Metalcore is a genre I've always struggled to get into myself, but there's usually at least a few interesting moments for me to appreciate and enjoy, however this I'm genuinely struggling to find anything for me to enjoy, and not liking this one bit.

For me it's way too overproduced, it's lacking interesting melodies, the songwriting is average at best, and the vocals are quite simply appalling imho. Then again, I understand there's people out there that'll very much appreciate this album more than me.

There are literally hundreds of better metalcore bands out there than AA.

I haven’t listened to this band in at least 10 years, but I decided to try this one. It sounds what I would imagine Maroon 5 making metal would sound like. That’s not a dig at either band, just the first thing that came to mind when I heard it. Not really the same as I remembered. Don’t really like this at all but same as In This Moment I understand why people like them.

Hmm imo they are one of the better metalcore bands, a few decent tracks. I can't be asked to listen to an entire album of this though, especially not with lyrics like this.

I find it interesting that the closest thing these guys have to a good album is the 2021 release "See What's On The Inside" - at least according to MS users. And yet... they have 3.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify. I don't know if these ratings are exactly fair, or merely a reflection of the kind of metalheads that use Metalstorm. For the most part, it seems that Metalcore, Nu Metal and Deathcore are rated unfavorably, more often, than other genres. Nu metal, I understand
Yeah yeah incoming comments about them being overall worse and cringe genres that deserve low ratings. I love all kinds of metal, including these genres, and I find my opinion of them to be just a tad higher than Metalstorm reflects, in most cases.

With all that being said: I don't think this album is a 4 or a 5, just because the production, lyrics, and electronic elements are a bit more akin to pop music and mainstream rock.

I enjoyed the tracks Things Could Be Different, Dark Void, and Holding On To Something More quite a lot actually.
6.75/10

Written by datfish on 22.01.2024 at 20:59

And yet... they have 3.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify. I don't know if these ratings are exactly fair, or merely a reflection of the kind of metalheads that use Metalstorm.

People that enjoy music, don't enjoy AA.

https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/asking-alexandria

Written by Boxcar Willy on 22.01.2024 at 21:48

Written by datfish on 22.01.2024 at 20:59

And yet... they have 3.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify. I don't know if these ratings are exactly fair, or merely a reflection of the kind of metalheads that use Metalstorm.

People that enjoy music, don't enjoy AA.

https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/asking-alexandria

LOL. Guess I should say I've only heard some of their stuff. I kind of liked this album. Most of what I have heard from them I haven't. So guess I was moreso making a point about the genres in general being a lower grade. I'm hardly the person to defend AA.