Introduction:
Hello and welcome back to ROCK D3COD3D! I know I've been gone for a long while and I wanted to thank you all who still continually check in to see if anything new has been released. Well, as of today I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I have some great stuff cooked up for you guys over the next few months that are going to expand upon everything put forward so far. But enough about the behind the scenes stuff let's get to the real reason you're here THE MUSIC.History
Now to be honest I came across this band through the wonderful avenue that is Spotify (I highly recommend this service to any music lover). Since stumbling across this I had originally intended to do a full-on D3COD3D review of the EP but I was shocked to find out that Paradise Fears is a fairly newcomer to the rock and pop landscape and have truly only been around since mid 2010. Originating in Vermillion, South Dakota, six friends decided to put off college for one year in hopes of making their rock and roll dreams come true. Now, I'm not going to lie to you there is not a whole lot known about this band with them only being around for a few years so if you want more info I highly suggest this article here for a much more detailed look at their short but sweet history. The have released a few records including Make Them Believe and a Youtube Covers (Part 1). It was only after an extensive touring and an acoustic EP that they decided to release the labor that is today's discussion, their newest EP entitled Battle Scars.Now I know what you're thinking. "But, Keith all they have done is release EPs what makes this one stand out?" To be honest with you I could not tell you questioning viewer except that it seems this is the EP getting a huge amount of publicity for it and after the "Prelude" it's easy to see why.
" I'll be saddened and surprised if this is the last we hear of Paradise Fears..."
Album "Review"
The album opens with the song "Prelude (Intro)" and my god does it do a great job building up the hype for the coming onslaught of songs. The lyrics are all about what it means to the band to really be able to put out this effort and why it is special to them. After finding out the alternative title (Call To Arms), it definitely makes sense why the speech is said with such passion/drive but does the good thing of avoiding becoming over the top or outstaying it's welcome as it is gone within a minute.The title track "Battle Scars" is actually broken up into two tracks, the original and it's reprise which both doing an amazing job of painting a picture of moving forward and being bookends for the bulk of the songs here. The reason I bring this up as a majority of the songs on the EP while fun, are also stem from varying degrees of pain. That is why, it's nice that the sentiment of "Marching on" is still prevalent throughout the album. It's the feeling that regardless of what you're going through life it's still worth pursuing as everyone has their own "battle scars" and that's what bonds us in one way or another.
It's at this point we get to my favorite tracks on the EP "What Are You Waiting For," "Fought For Me," and "Used." "What Are You Waiting For" is so cookie cutter pop music from the soaring chorus, the feel good upbeat demeanor, and the final chorus key change but my god if it's not addicting! One of my favorite lines comes directly from this song (You wanna live forever huh, well then just do it) and it's at this point I should mention that the lead vocalist (Sam Miller) will sporadically dive into an moments of talking (rapping?) throughout his songs which at first can throw you for a curve ball but eventually it just becomes a staple. One last sentiment about this song is you won't be able to listen to this without wanting to go out and do something, anything to better yourself. Then again, that can be said for a majority of the EP.
"...everyone has their own "battle scars" and that's what bonds us.."
"Fought For Me" and "Used" are both broken-heart songs that are very much in two different veins. "Fought For Me" follows an ex lover continually haunted by the memory that he should have done more for the person he was with eventually becoming so fed up with the notion that he himself starts asking if the other person would've done the same things they are asking of him for him. It's a song that definitely deserves at least one listen through while "Used" is the most reserved song on the album. Consisting of purely vocals, piano, and a simple synthesizer that rounds out the feeling of being letdown by someone you really let into your inner workings. To me, I feel it appears to be a one night stand and being a "means to an end" and my god does Sam Miller bring every bit of range he's got to this song. From the soft verses, the falsetto first and last chorus, to the belting repeat chorus, it's marvelous to see what Paradise Fears does with only half of it's members for a song.The other two songs on the album "Warrior" and "Lullaby" are not completely my cup of tea with the latter being just over the cheesy pop song line that "What Are You Waiting For" walked so well though I'm sure it will find it's place on your girlfriend's iPod. "Warrior" is actually the first (so far only) single on the album and I just don't see it being super spectacular as it's a very slow song acting as a polar opposite from songs like "Fought For Me" and "Battle Scars." The chorus does an okay job of keeping the song from being stale but it doesn't soar like the rest of the songs on the album so I'm hoping this is not the only single released from such a great EP.
Conclusion
In all, this is a don't miss for an fan of pop music, someone looking for that missing piece to their summer jams, or anyone searching for what's new and on it's way up. I'll be saddened and surprised if this is the last we hear of Paradise Fears as you can see so much potential and already realized talent in Battle Scars. If you have Spotify search this one immediately but, if you do not it's available on iTunes, Amazon, and last.fm.
Next time we'll be going back to basics with a band resurrected from the grave the one and only Hawthorne Heights and their newest experiment Zero.
