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It is always exciting to witness ex-teenage dirtbag heroes and current arena headliners evolve into immortalised rock'n'roll hall of fame legends. For some bands the transition is inevitable, for others it never happens, but for Asking Alexandria in particular, it was always a matter of when and not if. It might have taken them a few extra years and missteps, but their latest Where Do We Go from Here? is certainly that special one that silences the critics and deservedly pushes the band into the respected "modern classic" territory.
You know straight away that a band will ultimately reach the coveted immortal tier as soon as their album releases and festival appearances cause an outrage of equally powerful love and hatred. Asking Alexandria have been doing just that from the start, riling up the scene, the gatekeepers and even their own fans since Stand Up And Scream. They might have started by riding the wave of that new metalcore sound and actively shaped the 2010's scene aesthetic, but it was apparent they will not be content by being the posterboys of a genre destined to exhaust itself pretty soon.
Aiming higher then most of their contemporaries and keeping an almost consistent lineup for near 15 years, Asking Alexandria took on a long journey that saw them rise and fall repeatedly, become arena headliners, occupy headlines, play at just about every festival in the world, enter chart positions and radio waves, flirt with stadium rock, push their limits and eventually drop Where Do We Go From Here?, a statement album that simultaneously feels like the bittersweet end of their turbulent career and a hopeful new beginning.
We saw glimpse of exactly how self-aware and ambitious Asking Alexandria really are back in their self-titled effort from 2017, marking the return of Danny Worsnop who summarised their discography better than anyone on 'Where Did It Go?':
"There was the first one, the triple gold one, the stole by every fucking band on summer tours one. Then the second one The living reckless one, the knock the pop stars off the charts one, and the third one - the fuck the world one, the arenas singing every fucking word one. Then was a fourth one, the wasn't me one, the we needed just a little space to breathe one. But now there's this one, the I'm the king one, the I don't care, I'm gonna do my thing one, the breaking every fucking rule in book one..."
That whole verse, seemingly irrelevant and maybe a bit too cocky, marks the moment Asking Alexandria started to grow as a serious band. This new album Where Do We Go From Here? now marks the final stage of their maturity, subtly playing with the title of said song and asking the only logical question now - where do they go from here indeed?
Although everyone tries to do it, making an album that is as heavy and melodic without going into the extremes is not easy. Where Do We Go From Here? is groovy and bouncy, and hits harder that their previous records whilst also boasting those infectious hooks and anthemic choruses that became Asking Alexandria's signature in recent years. It is what that self-titled album set out to do, but Like A House On Fire (2020) and See What's On The Inside (2021) felt a bit short of - embracing their roots, rebelious hardcore past and mature present so they become immortal in the future without compromising on anything.
Going into Where Do We Go From Here? it wasn't a surprise that Asking Alexandria can hit hard, write kickass riffs and catchy metal bangers. We knew Danny Worsnop can sing, scream, and everything inbetween, we knew Ben Bruce is a force of nature, so what makes this album stand above the rest? Honestly, it is more a matter of feeling than analysis, and it is simply and objectively great album full of fantastic songs with actual arrangement and development as opposed to chaotic riff salad and generic breakdowns. Genre conventions mean nothing in the face of a good songwriting and the greats know this very well.
Truly, Where Do We Go From Here? is not flashy or extravagant and might not do much for the genre but it doesn't need to. Simplicity is not mediocrity, it is knowing your strenghts and playing by them without a care in the world. Asking Alexandria have always been the most American band to come out of the UK and also the most British band to storm the US and this album perfectly captures that duality. It is passionate and engaged, delivering that Yorkshire attitude and drive, whilst not neglecting the production value and flair for the theatrical that is so typical for the big acts across the Atlantic. Where Do We Go From Here? was always going to be a big moment this year, but this is so much more that I personally expected and cannot wait to really see where they go next.
Asking Alexandria - 'Where Do We Go From Here?'
Country: England
Released: 25 August 2023
Label: Better Noise Music
Tracklisting:
1. 'Bad Blood'
2. 'Things Could Be Different'
3. 'Let Go'
4. 'Psycho'
5. 'Dark Void'
6. 'Nothing Left'
7. 'Feel'
8. 'Let The Dead Take Me'
9. 'Kill It With Fire'
10. 'Holding On To Something More'
11. 'Where Do We Go From Here?'
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