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I Am The Avalanche - Avalanche United
I Am The Avalanche – Avalanche United
Release Date: October 11, 2011 Record Label: I Surrender To put into perspective of how long it's been since a new I Am The Avalanche album was released, my first review for this site was their 2005 self-titled debut. Six years is a long time, huh? Thankfully, after all the label bullshit at Drive-Thru, I Am The Avalanche is back with a vengeance with their I Surrender debut, the appropriately titled Avalanche United. Sure, you've already heard a few of these songs over the years (thanks to IATA's relentless touring schedule), but you gotta admit that it feels great to finally blast them as loud as you want through your stereo. The twelve tracks featured on Avalanche United never takes it foot off the pedal. When vocalist Vinnie Caruana enthusiastically says “check, check!” amidst the buzz of opener “Holy Fuck,” you know exactly what's gonna go down. Incorporating one of the album's best melodies (courtesy of guitarist Mike Ireland), Caruana recalls going through a divorce but refusing to go through another (“You don't turn your back on family”). “Brooklyn Dodgers” is a love song dedicated to New York, and is already a fan favorite – an old demo refined into a fist-pumping anthem. Avalanche United also possesses a heaviness that wasn't as prevalent on IATA's debut album. The upbeat “Amsterdam” will send a charge throughout your nervous system, while “This One's On Me” is a celebration song, an ode to friends and fans alike. While the overall theme of the album seems to center around comradery, there are still some tense, dark moments on the record. The dissonant “Dead Friends” is a reminder of those who've passed on, while the creeping “You've Got Spiders” takes aim at scumbags. The former is a despair-ridden track that focuses on people losing their passion. The track is anything but, however, as a nicely placed mosh part anchors the track. The darkest moment appears on “The Gravedigger's Argument,” a breakneck punk song in the vein of Lifetime. Aided by Bayside's Anthony Raneri, the song tells the story of a gravedigger who realizes that he must bury his dead wife in his backyard to attain closure. But Avalanche United doesn't stay bleak for long. Hell, this album features the most positive lyrics from Caruana in a long time, if ever. The melodic “I'll Be Back Around” has Caruana pulling himself up from his bootstraps and enjoying life, while the soaring (and fittingly titled) “Is This Really Happening?” is Caruana's first stab at a love song. There's a lot of poignancy to Caruana's writing on Avalanche United – you can sense his (and the rest of the band's) maturity throughout the record. It's as levelheaded as a record can be, never getting too sappy or too depressing. Whether it's not taking anything for granted anymore (“The Place You Love Is Gone”) or dedicating a song to the toughest sonofabitch you know (“Casey's Song”), Caruana takes it all in stride. The album concludes in typical Avalanche fashion, as “Gratitude” is an absolute banger. From a pummeling drum solo (Brett Romnes seriously kills it on each track) to the blistering guitar duel between Ireland and Brandon Swanson, each IATA member shines, wrapping up the album with a contagious “AVALANCHE UNITED” chant. The quintet is having the time of their life and it's prevalent from start to finish. The album is everything you'd want in a punk record – fast, to the point, and in your face, all while being paced by crunchy guitar chords, rich textures, and raw vocals. It's obviously the best album of the band's career and the definitive Vinnie Caruana record. During the 30 odd minutes of Avalanche United, you hear a revitalized band that's eager to take over the country and at the top of their game. So here's a friendly memo to the rest of the pop-punk genre: it's time to get on I Am The Avalanche's level. 9/10 |
A lot of high reviews and scores this year from you Drew. Excited to see the AOTY.
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This is my AOTY thus far. Just so damn good
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My AOTY list is looking long now. I should probably cut out the bullshit. This album will definitely stay
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Digging the album. Holy Fuck is such a great opener.
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Slightly overrated in my opinion, because I can't seem to stomach through the middle of the record without getting distracted away from it, but as far as "punkier" pop-punk goes, with really, really solid musicianship, this band is flat-out a group of professionals. A major plus of this being their first record in 6 years is that it felt like they left absolutely everything in the studio and that makes for a wonderful energy and edge in these songs.
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Had a blast with my IATA boys Sunday...so proud of all of them.
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wow. I cant wait to hear this album now. Always a solid review Drew
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There are a couple of songs that I don't find catchy/memorable when taking the record in as a whole, but the musicianship is incredible, writing is done well, and the production is huge which all make up for that. My favorite track (other than the obvious fan faves) is "The Place..".
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Vinnie has been one of my favorite people in this scene since I was 15, it always bummed me out the hand he was dealt in terms of label issues. I'm really glad these guys were able to put out a new record, let alone one that is going to top AOTY lists everywhere.
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Can not wait for my copy to show up.
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Must check out. May be seeing Vinnie for a 3rd time this year.
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Dunno about you guys, but "Dead Friends" makes me want to break some teeth.
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not listening to any other songs until my copy arrives, but the first two are absolute bangers
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Wow can't wait to check out this album.
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Drew, couple typos in the second graph, just an fyi
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Such a good album!
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This band/album is leauges ahead of the other bullshit bands in the same genre.
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Been loving this album so far. I don't remember getting into the first record this much, but I'm going to go back and revisit it because this one is so great.
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Here's to the review Drew...this shit is ridiculous in the best way. Feels like good ol' fashioned punk-rock.
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The bass in "I'll Be Back Around" is so great.
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Good review, solid album.
Couple typos in the first two paragraphs. |
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Ha, you can send them to me. I was an editor. I think it was the third sentence - off* And maybe reword the sentence, I think the tense threw me off. |
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“Is This Really Happening?” is Caruana's first stab at a long song. Is this supposed to say love song? |
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great review. pretty sure this will top my album of the year list.
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good album. falls flat during the ass end, but the first three songs are some of the best songs vinnie's been a part of. for me, a 6.5/10.
/luvudrew |
Had no idea Brett produced this.
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On a general note, I feel like this is a straight Punk record, which is something I haven't heard in a long time. |
Looks like IATA just launched their new webstore too today and it has copies of rare white/blue AVALANCHE UNITED vinyl up on it too: www.avalancheunited.com
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Wasn't too impressed by this album.
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might check this out
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I love this album, it's been on repeat for me. I just hope it has the lasting value that the first album did. I feel like a few of the songs on this record could get stale a little quick, mainly the ones around the middle of the record.
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Vinnie is one of the most real dudes I've ever met in music. He's been coming to Syracuse time and time again with the movieife and tons with IATA. people need to support good music from good people.
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This album blew me away. In my top 3 this year ferser.
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digging this. think ill buy it when i get paid
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Finally checked this out today...I dig Brooklyn Dodgers a lot. Great album, definitely recommend. The review definitely does this album justice, great job Drew.
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can't get enough of "this one's on me"
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This is coming from someone who bought the vinyl and the album on itunes..
I thought the album suffered in some areas. First off, Production could have been better. Songs like "I'll be back around", "Is this really happening?", and "you've got spiders" should have sounded bigger IMO. The vocals get too raw too at times. Vinnie does a throaty (is that a word?) approach to some of his vocals (notably in "Amsterdam") which doesn't sound the best to me. The last problem I had with the album- the demos do sound better to me. Maybe it's because I have listened to the demos for years now so I'm used to the song in that shape. With that said, the record is still very good. Does it sound better than their debut? Yes. I sounds more cohesive and musically tighter. At the end of the day, I'm just glad IATA got to release their record. I can tell this is already putting them back in the spotlight in the "scene". I wish the best for these guys, I'm just a little let down by the record in some aspects. |
So good.
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and definitely xcited to pick up this album, loved their self-titled <3 |
I've had this for a week or two now and I can't stop listening. It's by no means a flawless record, but "Dead Friends", "Gravedigger's Argument", and "Holy Fuck" are some of my favorite Vinny songs ever...
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Possibly the catchiest album i've listened this year.
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That said, I'm just stoked to have another album from these guys, and there's some fantastic songs on this. I look forward to blasting it all summer long. |
I was never a fan of IATA back in the day, but this album is so good. Will definitely be in my Top 10 of 2011 list.
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ill take it.
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Love this one.
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This album is seriously everything I expected and MORE.
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Took me a really long time to get into this band and album for some strange reason, now I'm absolutetly loving the shit out of it!
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