Geekscape Music Reviews: Aiden’s Disguises

This week’s review is for “Disguises”, the follow-up album to post-hardcore/horror-punk band Aiden’s 2009 hit, “Knives”.

Now I loved their last album, and just from the demos and previews that were released, I was excited about this release. This marks the bands fifth studio album, and eight release overall (six of those coming from Victory Records).

Recorded in Seattle, Washington by lead singer WiL Francis at his personal recording studio, “Disguises” continues the fast, raw, evil sounding style of “Knives” and shows Aiden doing what they do best: Making an Aiden record. They don’t sound like any other band, they use their own style of horror-punk mixed with angsty (in places) and religion-based lyrics (in other places).

Since such little info was made available about the album (aside from some lyrics), I was unable to do my usual background gathering, and therefor have to go off of listening alone. And that listening brings me to believe that because of the fact that each song has similar themes and often repeated words and subjects, this album tells a story. But that’s not to say that it’s a concept album, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see Aiden do something like that.

Starting off with the album is the short track “The Devil’s Eyes”, and even though it has an Atreyu-style riff, immediately launches into the haunting group vocals that has given this band their well-known sound. From that point on, it’s speed and creepiness all the way til the ending track, “Radio”,  which sees the band veer off and play something slow and calm, which is unusual for them. But the way it sounds reinforces the story idea, mostly because it SOUNDS like something that would be used to end a story.

As a whole, the album doesn’t show any evolution from the band, as it’s the same style they’ve always played. However, it DOES take elements from all four of their previous albums, and that’s a definite plus. The punk instrumentals of “Our Gang’s Dark Oath”, the speed of “Nightmare Anatomy”, the powerful lyrics of “Conviction”, and the catchy, upbeat feel of “Knives”.

Downsides from the album would have to be the amount of background noise on a few of the tracks, often making the vocals hard to hear, and another common theme in today’s music: short album lengths. “Disguises” clocks in at just under 31 minutes long. Such a short album leaves the listener wanting more. My solution? Listen to this and “Knives” back to back.
In the end though,even these points aren’t enough to make me think less of the album.

Where would I put rank amongst the rest of their studio albums? I honestly can’t say.

Total rating: 4.5/5

Key tracks:
“Horror Queen”
“A Portrait Of The Artist”
“Walk Among The Dead”

Yours evilly,
-JC Stade