Top 5 Best and Worst Characters of "American Horror Story"

By: James Southworth

FX's original show "American Horror Story" created by Ryan Murphy has quite an ambitious concept. Each season of the show takes place in different time periods and settings. In each of these settings, the show tries to thrill, intrigue, and most of all scare you with all of the events and ideas it presents. A lot of times the scares reflect the human condition rather than being entirely supernatural. For example, "Hotel" had clear messages about the effects of drug addiction. I do really enjoy this show. But it is far from perfect. A large result of that can be some of the characters the show presents. But the excellence of the show can also be a result of the characters. Sometimes we see characters with compelling arcs; other times they can really feel like cardboard cutouts. So, for this piece, I will be counting down my five favorite and least favorite characters throughout the whole of AHS. Feel free to give your own opinions! (There will be spoilers)

Favorite Characters

5. Dr. Arthur Arden (James Cromwell)- Asylum

You will be seeing another character from "Asylum" for my favorites list, as "Asylum" is my favorite season, and I believe it hosts some of the most interesting characters out of any of the seasons. This guy is seriously one of the most frightening characters to behold in this whole season; I honestly found him more frightening in some ways than the main antagonist of the show, Dr. Thredson. The fact that the guy is an undercover Nazi who just loves to torture others and has practically free reign over what he can do to the mostly blameless patients in the Asylum is frightening to say the least. Every time I saw him on screen I was distinctly unsettled. But there was also something compelling about him as a villain, especially in the fact that he was always cool and collected no matter what horrible acts he committed. It really showed that he believed in what he was doing wholeheartedly. He's one of the most evil characters on the show, but I couldn't help but enjoy watching every time he was on screen.

4. Marie Laveau (Coven)- Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett has become an awesome part of the ensemble cast, but her appearance in Coven is still the best. Much like "Hotel", Bassett helps make better what can often be a weaker season. She plays this voodoo witch who has been victim to racism and is on the lookout for revenge against the Coven who has always oppressed her own. Bassett always seems to play her characters with a real sense of powerful strength and determination to them. More than anything she has fun with them. This can be seen in Marie as she puts a dark comedic edge to her that ultimately makes the character feel dynamic. I rooted for this character more than any other out of this not so great season, and a lot of that was due to Angela's great performance. I have noticed that Murphy sometimes writes his side characters better than his main characters, and this is a great example of that.

3. Tate Langdon (Murder House)- Evan Peters

Peters is one of three actors that has been consistently a part of AHS, and I am always interested to see what type of character he'll be playing next. But still my favorite role by him (and it will most likely remain this way) is his very first role in murder house, where he plays a mentally unstable high school boy turned school shooter. It might sound hard to empathize with a person like this, but Murphy has a certain skill for making the audience have sympathy for those who we often consider horrible. Peters shows his character as one who is incredibly broken and messed up, in need of redemption. His redemption seems to be in the girl he befriends and eventually falls in love with, Violet Harmon. Peters doesn't play his character like a horrible, pathetic person though; Tate has a sense of humor, an inherent kindness in him, and never feels like a shallow individual. But the darker side of him can be very frightening because of the way Peters plays the character. It's a very multi-dimensional role and makes the first season that much stronger.

2. Liz Taylor (Hotel)- Denis O'Hare

O'Hare gives a bravura performance in the transgender character Liz Taylor. He really helps elevate what is otherwise easily the weakest season in the AHS catalog. It seemed at the beginning of this show that O'Hare was going to be once again a more minor character. But instead, Murphy wisely chooses to give him a starring role for the first time, and Liz turns into almost a main character near the end of the show. In a season full of deplorable characters who are all awful people in their own right, Liz is a breath of fresh air, as she is the only character in this season that (at least for most of it) doesn't kill anyone, and instead is a loving, compassionate character who is very accepting of others but often not very confident in herself. I was always rooting for this character to be able to discover and eventually accept herself. After the midpoint of this season, she becomes one of the strongest and most self-assured characters of the show, and this is where Denis's acting skills really shine, as he makes Liz fierce while still having her golden heart. I don't want to give too much else away about this character. If you want to watch "Hotel" for anything, watch it for this amazing character.

1. Sister Jude Martin (Asylum)- Jessica Lange

Lange is my undeniable favorite out of all the the cast of AHS. Every character she plays she always makes extremely believable and three-dimensional. But the role out of all of hers that is the clear best comes in the nun she plays in Asylum. Murphy has a sometimes obvious, one-dimensional distaste for religion. As a Christian, it can be infuriating to see how he portrays Christianity, like in "Freak Show" where he has a "Christian" mother abandoning her son because he is a sin to God based on something he can't avoid, or in "Hotel", where a serial killer justifies his killings based on the Ten Commandments. Murphy can be about as subtle as Stephen King when it comes to being anti-religion. But, for "Asylum", it actually turned out that a more compelling Christian was created in Lange. She does start off as a pretty horrible person, as she emotionally abuses the patients and even her own nuns. But we see a more interesting side to her when in an interesting twist of events she becomes a mental patient after claiming to have witnessed one of her nuns being possessed by a demon (which she is telling the truth on). We see why now this character may have been not such a great Christian- because her faith had constantly been twisted as she had been oppressed by others her whole life. The priest who she is in love with perverted her view of how a Christian could be. Once she realizes this priest is a virus to her, she becomes someone who does feel like they actually do love God, even if they have questions. The best moment of this character comes in a powerful monologue that Lange delivers about how broken she is to her patients who have no idea what she's talking about. It's an equally heartbreaking and powerful moment.

Least Favorite Characters

5. Kyle Spencer (Coven)- Evan Peters

It was somewhat insulting to watch Peters reduced to a zombie-like creation for almost a whole season. As the show started, I thought we were going to get to see Murphy tearing down what a frat-boy stereotype. But, just when that is about to get started, Peters has a spell put on him that turns him into a creature that can only speak seemingly in grunts and sexual advances. This guy is a talented actor, but he could NOT pull off this role. His movements did not feel connected, his expressions were always blank. There was really nothing to this character that made me feel like I should care for him. I hated that Murphy wanted to put Peters in a role like this, as it was clearly not within the guy's acting strengths. This is easily his weakest role to date, and will probably remain to be that way.

4. Shelley (Asylum)- Chloe Sevigny

Maybe it's because I find Sevigny to be a freaking boring actress, but I did not think that this actress matched this role of a sex addict at all. The lines that she delivered did not feel very convincing. I just did not feel she created any sympathy out of her character either, as she just seemed to take all of the intrigue out of the room whenever she was on the screen. She felt like a wall whenever another actor attempted to make a connection to her. I never got the feeling she had any particular objective to go after. There was nothing here. Luckily, she was not one of the bigger parts of Asylum, so she did not put too much of a damper on it.

3. Detective Jon Lowe (Hotel)- Wes Bentley

Jon is one of the least interesting serial killers I've ever watched. This season could've been from almost any other person's perspective and it would've been totally ok. But instead, Murphy decided to make Lowe the main character for a big portion of the season, and that did not work at all. He was extremely boring for most all of it, mainly just an empty canvas for the audience to project themselves upon so they could feel more a part of the show. He never seemed to have any real personality to him, which is what made it so weird that he turned out to be a serial killer. It was a twist I was expecting, but it still felt like a cheap move. His motivations for killing were a little all over the place- I couldn't decide whether it was for "justice" or some perverted religious agenda (once again- nice subtlety Murphy). He became a little more intriguing once he remembered he was a killer, but by the time that happened it was too late. I couldn't find a reason why I should care that he find redemption; I more felt he deserved punishment.

2. Violet Harmon (Murder House)- Taissa Farmiga

In a season full of great characters, Violet was the only one who felt like she conformed to horror stereotypes. It was hard to say which was worse between the character that Taissa plays in Coven versus the one she plays in this season. Taissa is probably my least favorite of the ensemble cast, as with both of the seasons she's in, she seems to play the same exact character- an emo, whiny teenager who feels as though she's entitled to everything even though she already has a lot of good things going on. But Violet did become the clearer worse of the two, as she embodied a lot more of the cliches of the rebellious teenager type- argues all the time with her parents, smokes/takes drugs, lashes out in a very violent way against her bullies, falls in love with a shady individual. Literally all the check marks are ticked off. The only thing that lifted her up was the rest of the cast making her look better as an actor. Otherwise, this character is a weak, shallow, cardboard cut-out, partly the fault of Murphy's writing, partly the fault of Farmiga's weak acting.

1. The Countess (Hotel)- Lady Gaga

"Coven" and "Hotel" are, in my opinion, the two weakest seasons of AHS. But their weaknesses are for differing reasons. "Coven" has a weak, generic story, but for the most part, the acting really shines through because of the very talented cast. "Hotel" often has an interesting story, but even some of the most talented cast members seemed to be weaker in their acting skills than usual. But there is one person in the cast of this season who I can safely say is not very talented in the acting department, and that is Lady Gaga. I'm not saying her acting is bad because I dislike her music. Those two things are not related. While I will give Gaga the credit that she certainly tries, her acting capabilities just do not reach to the character she plays. The Countess is clearly a character Lange would of played, as besides Jon Lowe, The Countess is pretty much the main character. She is a vampire who also happens to be a mother as well as the leader of Hotel Cortez. She has what could be an interesting backstory about being in love with two people at the same time but losing both of them. But anything that could be interesting about this character is lost because Gaga's acting skills are only surface level. It's not like anything she does is really cringe-worthy, it's more just boring and predictable. She plays a vampire in the most typical way possible: a seductive individual who is deceptive and cunning. There is nothing innovative besides the flashy, but often-times ridiculous-looking, clothing Gaga wears. I really wanted to like Gaga, and I can tell she could be a good actor with more time. However, a role of this weight was just not for her. The character was instead one who I could never sympathize for because of how many people she killed and how entirely ungrateful she was of everyone around  her. Murphy did seem to have a feminist idea going for her, like she couldn't be controlled by any man, but she came across as the most extreme type of feminazi out there, a murderous one at that. I hated this character so much; I couldn't get behind her motivations and I couldn't even find her interesting as a villain.

And there you have it! What are YOUR favorite and least favorite characters of the AHS franchise?

10 Great Songs for Halloween

by: James Southworth

It's hard to believe, but Halloween is already on the way! This is easily one of my favorite holidays, mainly because I love creepy things. Horror movies are one of my favorite genres to watch, and they become even more fun on Halloween (countdown of my favorite horror movies coming on Halloween day!). But oftentimes people associate songs just as much with Halloween, if not more, than the movies they're part of. Who can forget the crazy string arrangement of the "Psycho" theme, the campy fun of "Ghostbusters", or the absolutely unsettling crescendo of clashing sounds in the "Insidious" intro? There's a lot of memorable horrifying music out there for sure. Today I've decided to challenge myself to name off ten songs that aren't just for this season of scares; however they still feel like they work for the Halloween spirit (I will break my rule one time for the number 1 song though). Sometimes I do feel like all those iconic themes can become overexposed and tiring. So why not name some more unconventional ones to add to the playlist?

10. "The Darkest Part" by RED

This song feels just right for the Halloween spirit. It starts off with a quietly unsettling string arrangement, and Barnes's vocals come in distorted and creepy. The theme of this song is perfect as well, as it is discussing the idea of not wanting someone to see your more corrupt side. What really sells this song, though, is the amazing music video. The video has Halloween aesthetic all over it, especially with the gorgeous red and orange leaves, as well as these frightening masked figures that are representations of the darker parts of our selves. The song's subject is deep, but chilling things should have weight to them.

9. "MNSTR" by Crown the Empire

There are a lot of songs that bands have made surrounding the theme of monsters, but I feel like this song not only did a good job at addressing the idea of a monster lyrically ("I am the ghost in the shadow/I am the fear of the dark/I am the murderer of apathy/An angel that's fallen"), but it also nails the atmosphere. The song starts off with a lot of menace as the unclean vocalist is practically spitting out his words over an effective guitar riff. The song builds and builds until it explodes, and leads into a guitar riff that sounds like it could be in "Frankenstein". In fact, thematically, this song does remind of that play, especially with how  theatrical and over-the-top the song is. It's a fun listen and is sure to get you into the Halloween spirit.

8. "Turn Your Back and Run" by Demon Hunter

This song gives me chills every time I listen to it. The song starts with this very distorted guitar riff which transitions into some of the most guttural growls that Ryan Clark has done. Even the rare singing moments in this song feel very off. The lyrics in this song give off some frightening imagery of their own ("A small price to bleed and give you everything that you want/Dancing with the spirit, giving heart to pump a dirty veil/Leaving with a scar, a uniform to bruise a perfect stain"). Those lines have even more weight considering they're talking about the very real consequences of what temptation can do. Where this song really gets its horror feel is in the very creepy choir. This choir really does sound like it belongs on a "Halloween Noises" compilation. The song ends off with a keyboard that sounds out of tune in just the right way to make you have goosebumps.

7. "Doomed" by Bring Me the Horizon

This is an odd song for BMTH, as it is a moody electronic piece with none of their signature screams, but it happens to be one of my favorites by them just because it gives off its mood so effectively. The electronics in this song are an intriguing thing to behold, as they give off this somber, depressing vibe that was a little creepy to listen to the first time I heard it. Then we get into Oliver's vocals, which are very have a monotone feel to them. The repetition of "you can have my heart" adds to the depressing vibe of this song. Where the Halloween feel of this song really comes in is the end of this song, where there's this amalgamation of human noises and more unsettling electronic elements. The song has a fall vibe to it, and it can work quite effectively for a Halloween playlist.

6. "Insane" by Korn

Easily the newest addition on my list, this song is a delightful return to form by Korn. I would say their whole dystopian themed album "The Serenity of Suffering" could be the soundtrack to a horror movie because of all of the themes it tackles. But "Insane" might be the best one to use, as this song just reeks of horror themes. Lead singer Jonathan Davis seems to go into the mindset of an insane person, someone who is so used to their insanity that it has become the new normal to them. Now things that are deemed as "normal" to them are insane. Davis gives this insane person further characterization by making his voice sometimes sound off-tune with the guitars. It's done in just a way to make one feel that something could be behind them. This is yet another song where I recommend you watch the music video. It has that Halloween aesthetic to it, and it adds another dimension to this awesome song.

5. "The Phantom of the Opera" by Andrew Lloyd Weber

I know that a lot of people do associate this song with Halloween, but I do not think the original intention of this musical was just to be for the season of Halloween. Nevertheless, what makes this song work is, obviously, its theatricality. The Phantom and Christine's vocals sound beautiful yet ghost-like in this song, as Christine expresses how the Phantom has gained this odd control over her, while the Phantom says his power over her will continue to grow. What really makes this song shine is the keyboard, as it plays this arrangement of notes that will stick in your memory because it makes you feel unsettled. Also the final part where Christine is going higher and higher in her vocal range while the Phantom continues to darkly tell her to "keep singing" ends the song on what can only be interpreted as the Phantom having some sort of power over her. This is easily the highlight of the whole musical, and it made this romance all the more compelling, while also being frightening.

4. "No Place Like London" by Stephen Sondheim

This song comes from the musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street". Now, on that title alone, you might think this whole musical is Halloween themed. I would debate it is not, as this musical goes up when it is not the Fall season. But the content of this song, which is talking about all the awful people that live in London, is horrific to say the least. The image of London being a "great black pit" is a frightening one. The song certainly sounds beautiful, but it also has odd time signatures, and the different vocals always offset each other, adding to the feeling of being unsettled. I would honestly recommend giving any song off this musical a listen, as it will put you in the mood for Halloween instantly.

3. "Heathens" by Twenty One Pilots

I think it's pretty easy to see why this song gives me a lot of Halloween vibes. The lyrics alone make you feel like you can't trust anyone ("You're lovin' on the psychopath sitting next to you/You're lovin' on the murderer sitting next to you...All my friends are heathens take it slow"). Like almost any TOP song, this track does have a deeper meaning, as it is addressing the band's huge fans not giving warm welcomes to any new fans who only came knew TOP because of their successful "Blurryface" album. But that metaphor gives this song some even more weight and depth, as it is talking about real things and real people. The creepy feel of the song is accentuated by Tyler's vocals having a more epic, dark feel to them, as well as later in the song when a distorted voice says "watch it" over a guitar riff. This song is superb, and it can work for Halloween perfectly.

2. "Nightmare" by Avenged Sevenfold

Man, I love this song. It's what got me into A7X, and it's easily one of my favorite tracks by them. I enjoy listening to this song more than ever around Halloween. Something about Synyster's beginning guitar riff made me instantly think of a horror movie. The song becomes even better when Shadows has this extended "yeah" that he belts out along with a laugh that does sound like it could come from a famous horror villain. The song has an unavoidable Halloween feel as the band is talking about nightmares. The music video seems to be an ode to horror movies, and it works for what the song sounds like. I heard this song being played while I was going to a haunted attraction, and it added to my enjoyment of being there rather than taking away from it. So this song definitely works.

1. "This is Halloween" Cover by Marilyn Manson

I did say my number one song would be the only one that had explicit ties to this holiday. But really, I can't resist. No matter how much attention this cover gets, to me it will never be enough. It's pure fun and it actually builds off what the original Tim Burton version established rather than just copying it. I love the guitar riffs here, as they give off all the spooky Halloween sounds that the original song had. But the real star of the show here is clearly Manson's voice work. I love how he changes his voice with every different character he portrays. He could've easily taken the easy route and used his standard voice, but instead he decided to have fun and embrace his theatrical side. It makes this song that much more of a fun listen, and is probably one of the best covers of any song I've ever heard. Go check it out now. With this song and all the rest, you should be more than ready for October 31st!

Disciple "Long Live the Rebels" Album Review

 

By: James Southworth
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Christian metal/hard rock band Disciple has been around for an impressive twenty four years- that is more than most Christian rock acts or any band in general lasts. What makes it more impressive is that the band has consistently changed its lineup, except for one very important person- lead singer Kevin Young. Without him, Disciple would've been broken up long ago, as he is the one who has kept this band going. This guy, and in effect, every member a part of Disciple have affected me very personally. They were the band that got me back into music after a time of being out of it. My favorite song of all time (which is by them) "Dear X" was the first time I came to the realization my sins don't have to define me, and it continues to be a philosophy I live by today. I owe a lot to them to say the least. Their consistently awesome musicianship that has hardly ever deteriorated since their sophomore release "This Might Sting a Little" have made them my favorite band of all time. This year Disciple has come out with yet another release, "Long Live the Rebels". How is it compared to their other releases? Well, let me just say, this release surprised me a lot because it showed this over two decade old band still willing to experiment with their style while keeping their central sound and superb lyricism in tact.

The album begins off in a great way with the epic opener "First Love". This one doesn't pack quite the same huge punch that openers like "Radical" or "Outlaws" may have. But this opener works  well in a different way, as it feels big in scale at nearly five minutes long. It also boasts a great chorus which has Young begging God to take him back to where his love for God was raw and real: "You can have it all, each part of me/The saint and the sinner/Are ready to return to my first love/Take me back". This song is one that has grown on me more and more each listen. I love the excellent musicianship it shows as well as how Kevin's vocals are allowed to shine in new ways. Disciple hasn't attempted an epic feeling song before, but they pull it off here with talent. After this song, we move into more familiar Disciple territory with the title track. But familiar Disciple territory includes hard hitting guitar work, intense vocals from Young, a driving drum beat, and some defiantly fun war themed lyrics. Those elements are all here, and they still work as effectively as ever. Somehow Disciple is able to use this tried and true formula and still make it feel fresh. I found myself quickly singing along to the chorus. "Secret Weapon" is easily one of the most experimental songs on this album, not sounding like any other Disciple song I've heard before, even going so far as to incorporate some electronic elements. Guitarist Josiah Prince takes some of the vocals for the chorus, and his voice complements Kevin's quite well. The chorus of this song has a driving feel, making this one of the most interesting pump-up choruses on the album.

"Erase" is easily one of my favorite songs off this album, as it is an emotionally effective anthem that tells the listener God doesn't define us by our past: "When you say you're not okay/My heart it breaks to heal your pain/I will erase your yesterday,you'll be okay/My love is greater than your mistakes". This song really hit me with that awesome reminder. The song is lifted even more by the memorable guitar riff as well as the wonderful climax the song reaches in its vocally dominant bridge. We then get what is in my opinion the best song on the album, "Come My Way". When I first heard this song, I had to make sure I was still listening to Disciple, as I'd never heard the band do a song like this before. The song is a slow-burning rock tune which builds and builds until it reaches several amazing climax points. Young and Prince trade off vocals more frequently in this song, and it makes the song even more interesting to listen to; it makes it feel bigger and more epic as well. Anticipation keeps on building as Young asks "Are you gonna come my way" which goes into an awesome chorus. There is also quite the incredible guitar solo which is some of the best guitar work I've ever heard from the band (that's saying something, because guitar work has always been good for this group). The song then ends on a surprisingly good subdued note. This tune is very much so a musical journey, and it is one of the best songs of the year; I'm absolutely obsessed with it. After this song comes a track which is reminiscent of famous Disciple battle themed songs like "Game On" and "321", known as "Underdog Fight Song", plays. While I did not care for this song at first, it has certainly grown in me. It's easy to head bang to this song with the chaotic drumming and guitar work. To top it all off, Young's vocals feel like a throwback to the rap/screaming style he did in "This Might Sting a Little". This song screams nostalgia, but also feels new in other ways. The chorus of this song sticks, and I couldn't help but smile as Young encourages listeners to tell those who doubted them "It's been my pleasure proving you wrong".

The great songs continue with "Spirit Fire", which finds Disciple experimenting once again, this time with a pop/rock vibe that still has the band's classic intensity. The "woah"s used in the song don't feel forced and instead work to increase the truly catchy feel of the chorus. The song does break the pop/rock feel as Young lets loose one of his delightful screams that effectively transitions back to a chorus that ends off the song in a big way. We then get "Forever Starts Today", which shows the band maturely talking about how the words we say to others on earth have an eternal significance, so our words should always reflect God's love to others. While not one of the bigger highlights, this one certainly has a lot of lyrical content to chew on. Much like "First Love", "Black Hole" continues to grow on me more and more, especially with its awesome guitar intro. The song has Jesus comparing the scars on his hands to black holes saying "You can project all your pain onto me" and all the pain we may have in life will disappear into Him as if it never existed. For that intriguing metaphor alone, this song is a huge highlight among all the the other great tracks on here. "Spinning" has Young contemplating on the idea that while one person in the world may be suffering, another will be celebrating; and yet, the world will "just keep spinning around". He just wishes for the world to stop spinning so that he could comprehend all of the complications of it, but the Young maturely realizes that only God will have the answers to all of the chaos the world offers. "Long Live the Rebels" ends off in excellent form with another highlight in the simplistic ballad "Empty Grave". For the most part, only an acoustic guitar, piano, and Kevin Young are in this track, and it makes for a beautiful song about finding redemption from death through God. What elevates this song above some of the others though, is the backing vocals by Joyce Martin Sanders. Her and Young actually complement each other nicely. It makes for yet another more experimental track on this album, as Disciple have never had a female featured vocalist. I hope they try this again, as it works to their favor here.

The only negative I could find on this album is "God Is With Us", which is just so clearly pandered for radio. It also awkwardly rhymes "us" with "us", which felt a little cheap coming from this band. But the chorus is still somewhat catchy, and the song is more likeable than most radio friendly singles. Overall "Long Live the Rebels" is a superb album, and in my opinion even wins out over the preceding albums "O God Save Us All" and "Attack". This is their best album since "Horseshoes and Handgrenades" (still my favorite album by Disciple as well as my favorite album of all time), which is an impressive feat. This album tells me that, thankfully, Disciple shows no signs of quitting any time soon. In fact, it still feels like they are just getting started on what they can deliver. This album surprised me with all of the experimentation it did, twisting Disciple's signature sound into trying out things like pop/electronic rock, slow-burning rockers, and even featuring vocals that aren't Young's. Pretty much every time it worked in the band's favor. This album is easily one of my favorites of the year, and will most assuredly make my top 10 year end list!

Favorite Songs: "Come My Way", "Erase", "Black Hole", "Empty Grave", "First Love", "Long Live The Rebels", "Spinning"
Least Favorite Songs: "God Is With Us"

Fit for a King "Deathgrip" Album Review

By: James Southworth
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Ever since I heard their album "Creation/Destruction", I've viewed Fit for a King as one of the best metalcore bands out there and one of my personal favorite bands in general. Their sound is always hard-hitting and never stays the same from album to album. What makes it better is Ryan Kirby's incredible screaming abilities as well as some superb clean vocals from Ryan, aka "Tuck", O'Leary. Musically this band has always done very well, with their guitars and drums always feeling prominent, and having some very memorable guitar riffs and breakdowns. I love their third album "Slave to Nothing". It really improved on the bands' strengths: the breakdowns were there in appropriate instead of in excess, Tuck dominated and created some memorable choruses, and the lyrical content was very strong and uplifting. The primary theme of this record is one I think anyone can get behind: we don't have to be slaves to the things that hold us back; we can overcome those obstacles. That theme appeared repeatedly in the album, with the band discussing the importance of overcoming drug addiction, feeling undeserving of love, and finally how one can let go of their weaknesses even before death. Now FFAK is trying to build off the huge success of this album with their newest album "Deathgrip".

In regards to lyrical content, this album is a total paradigm shift from "Slave to Nothing". Instead of discussing overcoming sin, now FFAK is tackling all the dark issues that have and are plaguing our world, such as the Rwandan genocide, ISIS, abortion, and abandonment. Because of that, it's inevitable that both musically and lyrically, this album hits a lot harder than their other albums, which makes for a very tough but ultimately important listen. The album gets off to a magnificent start with the building opener "The End's Beginning" which leads to what is my favorite song off the album "Pissed Off". The title of this song sparked controversy since the band are Christian and "pissed" is a very strong word, but in the context of the song it makes since. This song is sparked by the ISIS attacks on the Bataclan. But instead of making the issue just specific to ISIS, the band discusses how guilty we all are of something. My favorite line in that song as well as one of my favorite lyrical moments of the year is "We are slaves to nothing but the blood on our hands". This is so true, and I immediately felt an emotional connection to this song because of that. Musically this is easily one of the most brutal songs FFAK have ever done, with Ryan's screams sounding absolutely killer, and the breakdowns really contributing to the righteous anger in this song. This is one of my favorite songs the band has ever done.

The album moves on to another huge album highlight "Dead Memory". Whereas "Pissed Off" uses raw anger to fuel its fire, this song uses honest sadness. The song is all about abandonment, and in the chorus Ryan takes the reign on the clean vocals as he asks, "Would you even notice/If my world was falling apart?/Would you even care/If my heart stopped beating?". I could feel Ryan's sincerity here in very real ways. There isn't really a solution offered here for something as huge as this (that is something that happens a lot on the album, but more on that later), but it would've been wrong if there was a solution. No one easily gets over someone they love abandoning them that easily, and this song shows it very accurately. I have to shout out Jake Luhrs of August Burns Red and his great feature here; I normally am not a big fan of him but his presence gave the song more emotional weight. The musicality of this song is just superb, especially with the unique electronic/symphonic elements giving the track an epic feel, making the song have all the more weight to it. "Shadows and Echoes" is the next big highlight to point out. Out of all the songs on here, this one feels like it could most easily fit on to "Slave to Nothing", and that is not a problem at all. This is the first time on the album where Tuck has the clean vocals, and as usual he sounds beautiful. This song becomes a bigger highlight because it is one of the more positively themed song as the band is begging to be let out of the darkness that is consuming them and everyone else: "The strong they stand up for their sons and daughters/The weak they flee from the sight of martyrs/We are the fire that won't burn out". The chorus of this song is super catchy, and the breakdown here really works as well.

Another (and honestly the final) positively themed highlight appears in "More Than Nameless". This is the most uplifting song on the album, as it doesn't end on a darker cliffhanger like most songs on here, but instead ends with a feeling of pure determination: "I've been spit on, I've been cast away/I am more than decay/You'll never hold me down/Rise up. I'm not nameless". The theme of the song, being that we are more than the labels society puts on us, is certainly empowering. Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying  the darker content of this album is bad by any means. But the positively themed content deserves attention on this album because it does break the tension of the album briefly before taking us into much darker territory. The rest of the album after this song stays in dark territory, but it really works for the most part. The band continues to let out their righteous anger at the current state of the world in "Unclaimed, Unloved" which boasts one of the most memorable choruses on the album. The song discusses how it is so easy to feel unloved in the world because of how everyone feels abandoned in some way. The only thing I do wish came out of this song was God having a more clear presence, but still the song really works. "Stacking Bodies" is the most brutal cut lyrically and musically on the album, as it is talking about the Rwandan genocide. The song is difficult but worthwhile and important to give a listen to . It gives a message about how we can't just ignore injustices like genocides because they make us feel uncomfortable. We need to acknowledge the darkness in our world, and find a way to change it. The title track ends the album superbly, musically reflecting the artwork of the album with a dichotomy between Tuck's soft vocals and Ryan's very intense screams. The song is depressing, but plays out like a parable of a person who has realized their sins much too late. They chose death because of this lack of realization rather than God. This is the only song that has God explicitly mentioned in it, making the song have a more hopeful feel to it.

There are a few negative points of this album. One overbearing negative is how truly dark this album often can be, and this is mainly due to God not being a very big presence on the album. There are times when God's presence is very much implied such as in "Pissed Off" when Ryan suggests there is a way to "end this terror". But there are other times when the negativity can be overbearing and can make for a disheartening listen. While I did say "Stacking Bodies" is an important listen, it does remind me of a war movie that you may not want to come back to very often. This song left me emotionally wrecked. I'm certainly glad the album didn't end off with that song, but it was a little hard to register the title track after that gut punch the previous song left. I think it should've been placed at the beginning next to "Pissed Off" personally. "Cold Room" talks about abortion in a very one-sided way. While I lean to being pro-life, I think it's a bad thing to discredit all women who have abortions. "We Are All Lost" and "Disease" mainly suffer from being forgettable songs; lyrically they were fine, but soundwise they were a bit murky and generic compared to some other cuts on here.

So, what's the final verdict? Honestly, I REALLY like "Deathgrip". It feels like an album that is needed in a year that has been particularly filled with some depressing and hard events to talk about. The album addresses important themes, especially ones like loving others despite of societal labels, as well as trying to find solutions to wipe away the sins that are of our own doing. My main gripe is that sometimes the darker moments of this album feel like they overpower the positive moments. God is not much of a presence here either, and I felt like if He were a part of this album more often, then maybe the tone of this album could've been more uplifting like "Slave to Nothing". But still, I think this album is certainly relevant and couldn't have come out at a better time. I definitely recommend you listen to it and form your own opinion on all the issues the band is addressing. "Deathgrip" is lyrically complex and talks about a lot of things in very compelling ways, which is what really will elevate this album above many other metal releases this year.

Favorite Songs: "Pissed Off", "Deathgrip" "More Than Nameless", "Shadows and Echoes", "Dead Memory"
Least Favorite Songs: "Cold Room", "Disease", "We Are All Lost"

Citzens and Saints "A Mirror Dimly" Album Review

By: James Southworth
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

I stumbled upon Citizens and Saints for the first time this year, as I saw a review of this album by my favorite music review site, JesusFreakHideout. I looked into this band, and realized that they were part of the worship genre. Now, as I've said before, I am not a big fan of the worship genre, as I feel most artists under that genre put themselves into a rut. But this group really surprised me... and it was in the best way possible. "A Mirror Dimly", the band's third album, combines electronic and alternative styles, along with worship focused lyrics. How does this combination turn out? Well, it ends up giving us one of the best albums of the year.

The album starts out superbly with one of its biggest highlights, "Crown Him". The song shows exactly what this album is all about: creating songs which start off as subtle and quiet, but build up to a really great pay off. This is actually one of the bigger feeling songs on the album though, as the electronic elements are instantly present. Zach Bolen's vocals then come in, and when I first heard them, I was amazed. This guy has serious talent, and a very beautiful voice which works for this electronic/alternative style. His voice also has a lot of raw emotion in it especially when he says with real passion "Chris the King is Lord, crown him/Seated on his throne, hail him". This song is simple in its worship elements, but it feels sincere. What really works in this song is how the chorus is repeated, and the backing elements keep on building off of the repetition. The song eventually reaches a huge explosion, and the synths give the emotion of the song at that moment instead of Zach's voice. It works incredibly well, and makes the song feel all the more like a worshipful, euphoric experience. "Madness" follows, and is a very upbeat and fun track. Lyrically it talks of how hard it is to really comprehend who God is ("Your ways are not my ways..."). The bridge of this song is what really makes this song work though, as there is another big buildup which leads to an excellent instrumental section.

The album continues with more gems. "Faith", which is lyrically is pretty standard in discussing in having faith in God. But the song is so upbeat and fun with Bolen really sounding like he's enjoying himself. The funky guitar riffs make for a fun song, and the chorus is undeniably catchy. But "Relent" is really the track that needs to be talk about, as it is one of the best songs I've heard this year. It is a compelling and passionate track about surrendering everything you have to God. The emotion Bolen gives off in this song is raw, and made me feel emotional as well. When I first heard this song, I couldn't help but join along and have a powerful moment with God as I was listening to it. The song does what "Crown Him" did (with the whole song being a build up), except in this song, the build up is even more powerful, and it lasts the rest of the song rather than just the end. The lyrics of this song are some of the best I've ever heard in a worship song: "I relent/There is nothing for me here/You can have it all, my life is not my own/You give life/That is worth the loss of mine..." Those last two lines in particular hit me really hard. At the very least give this track a listen, as it is musical and lyrical perfection, and is easily one of the best songs of the year.

Another funky track appears in "Kids". This song has a unique pop/rock flare to it. While the chorus is a little cheesy compared to the rest of the lyrics on this album, much like "Faith" the song is still so much fun. I can easily see everyone dancing to this one in a live setting. "How Majestic" is probably one of the more musically simplistic songs, not having any major buildup until the very end. But that is what makes this song one of the best tracks, as the simplicity works in its favor. The whole song is a simple lift up of praise to God. It works beautifully and is a track which I feel could work especially well in a corporate setting. The two ending tracks both follow the trend of the rest of the epic tracks on the album, with "My Joy is Complete" being more upbeat but for all the right reasons, and having an ending that feels musically gigantic, with the guitars and drums absolutely dominating the scene and creating a musical masterpiece. It makes for quite the dynamic song, and another highlight. "Doubting Doubts" ends out the album in a big way, feeling like an absolute victory song with lyrics like "And now that my eyes are open/I can see that I am a stranger broken/You're the mystery that I put my hope in/The more I seek, the more I find".  It ends the album in the best possible way. The only negative on this album for me is "Day By Day", which at six minutes feels like it meanders for a little too long. The lyrical content and musicianship also don't pack the same punch as the rest of the songs on the album do.

"A Mirror Dimly" is not a worship album- it could be better defined as a worship experience or journey. All the emotions this album gave me did not feel forced, they felt legitimate, as the lyricism was sincere and the music was shaped around the lyrics. Even better, the music varied and kept on building rather than having the same tired repetition that most worship albums have. That is what makes this one of the best worship albums I've ever heard, as well as one of the best albums of the year. This record honestly rivals King Kaleidoscope's sophomore album (keep in mind I gave that a 5/5). I advise you to give this album a try, even if you aren't a fan of worship. Citizens and Saints have defied the tropes of what conventional worship is, and because of that, I hope their message will reach out in bigger ways in the coming years.

Favorite Songs: "Relent", "Crown Him", "How Majestic", "My Joy Is Complete", "Madness"

Least Favorite Songs: "Day by Day"