Artist: Dead by April Album: Incomparable

Year: 2011
Duration: 47:58

A Critical Review of Dead by April's Incomparable Album

Dead by April is a Swedish metalcore band that has been around since 2007. They are known for their unique blend of pop and metal-inspired sounds, which are characterized by harsh screams, catchy choruses, and driving guitar riffs. One of their most notable works is their second album, Incomparable, which was released in 2011. This album helped to catapult the band to greater international fame, with its energetic and emotive tracks that showcased the group's dynamic range. In this blog post, we will provide a critical review of Incomparable, along with a brief history of the band, an examination of the music genre of the album, the best tracks on the album, the most innovative parts of the album, and a critique of the album as a whole.

Dead by April originated from Gothenburg, Sweden, and was founded by two musical producers, Jimmie Strimell and Pontus Hjelm. They were able to fuse their diverse influences to come up with a sound they dubbed 'Melodic Metalcore.'

Incomparable is a hallmark album for Dead by April as it showcases the versatility of the band. While Jimmie Strimell gets credit for his powerful screams, Pontus Hjelm is the mastermind behind the pop-influenced choruses, which made the band stand out among other metalcore bands.

The album kicks off with the track Dreaming. This song instantly captivates the listener with its potent energy, technical metalcore riffs, and catchy choruses that Hjelm is known for. The second track, Real and True, is another highlight of Incomparable. It features an electropop intro and drops into an up-tempo metalcore track defined by Hjelm's soft, pop-style singing.

The most innovative tracks on the album are What Can I Say and Lost. What Can I Say features the Dead by April signature foundation; it has melodic but heavy guitar work, catchy drums, and Strimell's signature screams. It, however, breaks the mold by having a soft and piano chorus that reintroduces Hjelm's pop sensibilities. Lost is a break from the usual fast-paced tone of the album; this song deals with emotional intimacy and is characterized by Hjelm's beautiful singing voice. It's a piano-driven track that features minimal drums and guitars, resulting in a very stripped-down sound.

While there's a lot to love about Incomparable, there is always something to be improved when it comes to making music. One critique of the album is that it gets repetitive. While the band's signature sound is easy to love, the album suffers from a weak selection of songwriting forms. The album struggles to vary its delivery, and to some listeners, tracks like Love Like Blood, sound almost identical to the previous one, In My Arms.

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Dead by April's Incomparable is a solid album that showcases the band's talents seamlessly. The band's unique fusion of metalcore and pop is perhaps the most distinct aspect of the album. While it's true that there are a few flaws with this album, such as the repetition of song structures, it's an overall solid outing that catapulted the group to international fame. If you enjoy metalcore music, give this album a listen, and you won't be disappointed.