Story Of The Year: Tear Me To Pieces
Story Of The Year. That’s it, that is the introduction. If you were listening to music in the mid 2000s then odds are you’ve heard of Story Of The Year, and have probably screamed “Until The Day I Die” at the top of your lungs as well. The band has remained relevant over the years, and now with the resurgence of Emo & Post Hardcore, the band is poised to bring in a whole new generation of fans and reignite the flame inside of the elder millennials. The new album Tear Me To Pieces is sure to be a fan favorite.
The album kicks off with the title track, Tear Me To Pieces. The track is sure to be relatable to long time fans and new listeners. Tackling the topic of anxiety and the compound problems that come along with it. Lead singer Dan Marsala belts out “Tear me to pieces, I’m on my knees, cause I can’t kill all the anxiety, I’m suffocating and I can’t break free”, most people are going to feel that to their core.
Next up we have Real Life. Another track that is going to hit fans with a healthy dose of reality. Not all relationships are meant to last and unfortunately not everyone in the relationship will always feel the same. “But that’s just real life”.
Afterglow comes in next and I think this track is going to quickly become a favorite of the “elder” fan base. It is kind of a “sappy love song” but with a unique SotY twist on it that takes it from what could have been a power ballad to a rock anthem.
Coming back in swinging for the fences with another track heavily influenced by mental health is, Dead and Gone. “That little match that you gave me, so I could light up the dark, it only taught me to hate me”. Sonically and lyrically this song is a powerhouse through and through. The energy that pours out of the track is going to translate into a huge amount of crowd energy during live shows.
War comes in with marching drum lines and amps you up from the start. The question is simple “Did you get what you came here for? Did you come to start a war?” If you need another track from your gym/workout playlist this is one that would definitely fill the spot.
Turning the energy dial up even more is Can’t Save You. Have you ever hit that point in a relationship or friendship where you’re just done? This is the song for that moment.
2005 is a painful reminder that we all grew up and have gotten older. But it’s also got this reassuring message that we aren’t alone. Very much a nostalgic track, and one that some may say doesn’t sound like a SotY track. The track features a much more “sing-songy” vibe but is going to be another track that the “elder” fan base sings at the top of their lungs.
Perhaps the most somber and sad track on the album is Sorry About Me. A feeling many of us have felt more than once in our lives, the feeling we need to apologize for the person we are. The fear of saying what we keep inside. This track was the one that hit me in the feels the hardest. And while it may be seen as a “rest” song in a live set it’s going to be one that is sang loudest by those that resonate with it. This is the standout sleeper track on the album.
Take The Ride turns the energy back up. The song tackles that feeling of not knowing where you’re going or what direction you should take, but still taking the ride and seeing where things end up. It is another example of how SotY can change direction (pun intended) sonically and still produce a track that is uniquely their own.
Knives Out comes in keeping the energy high. This track has some of the best guitar work on the entire album. The live version of this track is going to be insanely well received and crowds are going to be going nuts at shows.
Closing out the album is Use Me. Another step into a something that sonically some people will say isn’t a SotY sound. It is rare that the band does such a stripped down version of a song but the vocals of Dan in this track easily carry the listener. And lyrically it is a gut punch for anyone that has been in a unrequited love relationship. I think this is one of the sleeper tracks on the album that is just going to gain popularity with time and listens.
Overall Tear Me To Pieces is another outstanding showing by the band and is going to fit nicely into their long discography. It shows how much the band has matured their sound over the years, but also stayed true to their roots and remained authentic in the content of the songs. If you can listen to this album and not find a single track that you enjoy, regardless of what style of music you normally listen to, I’m not sure that your ears work properly.
Tear Me To Pieces Tracklist
1. Tear Me To Pieces
2. Real Life
3. Afterglow
4. Dead And Gone
5. War
6. Can’t Save You
7. 2005
8. Sorry About Me
9. Take The Ride
10. Knives Out
11. Use Me
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