The loss of a frontman can mean the death of a band - whether it’s from the loss of momentum associated with the departure of an important member, the input from fans on whether or not the band should continue under the same name, or even just the trouble of finding a replacement, a loss can put a band against all odds of success. Enter Close Your Eyes: the Victory Records up-and-comers who had garnered a lot of well-deserved attention with their 2010 debut full-length, We Will Overcome. Fast-forward a few short years and the band found themselves without their singer Shane Raymond, and with fans wondering about the future of Close Your Eyes. Fast-forward even further and we have a revitalized Close Your Eyes, with both new talent and a new album Line In The Sand.
The first and easiest thing to notice about Line In The Sand is the new vocalist. Sam Robinson is the man behind the new voice of Close Your Eyes, and it’s almost astounding how well he fits with the band. The hardcore punk/melodic and anthemic nature of CYE is almost tailor-made to compliment Robinson’s gristly shouts and soaring cleans. Because it has been such a natural transition in terms of singers, Line In The Sand sounds like an evolution of what was started on We Will Overcome instead of either copying, or intentional deviance.
Line In The Sand on its own, however, benefits from a few interesting things. While having fifteen songs can be quite daunting at first, the album is paced perfectly, with shorter songs revolving around chants bookending the album. Additionally, in the rest of the tracks, the album never stagnates by having multiple heavy songs or more melodic songs in a row. There is always something new to break up any potential monotony and that compliments the length of the album. Additionally, the guest spots (Sleeping Giant’s Tommy Green and Pennywise’s Zoli Teglas) are both well utilized and memorable in their respective songs.
For the most part, the songs switch between an early Rise Against style of hardcore punk (that being with screamed/yelled verses and clean choruses) and a more straightforward pop punk sound. The most notable of the latter is “Frame And Glass”. This is by far the album’s best amongst the other less aggressive songs. The chorus is memorable and catchy, and does the best job at showcasing Sam Robinson’s incredible voice. Another interesting thing to note about this song is the almost classic rock-inspired melodies scattered throughout. On the other side of the spectrum is “Skeletons”. Clocking in just shy of two minutes, this song packs in the most aggressive vocals on Line In The Sand, technical riffing and an insane heaviness that is unmatched on any of the other songs on the LP. Short metalcore songs tend to turn into a homogenized mess of chugging and vocal one-liners when not done well, but for Close Your Eyes, well, they have managed to craft an interesting modern metalcore song. It definitely sticks out on the album for being so heavy, but it is also one of the best tracks on Line In The Sand.
The downsides on this album are mostly encapsulated in the first few tracks. Up until the title track, things just aren’t as interesting or memorable as they are in the tracks to follow. If there is any content in Line In The Sand that I would label as “filler” it would be these songs. It’s a shame this pothole in an otherwise consistently smooth road has to be right at the beginning of the album. If you give Line In The Sand a chance to develop, however, you will not be disappointed. Additionally, the two overtly religious songs “Sleeping Giant” and “Glory”, while not bad songs in the slightest, may be alienating to some fans whose views and beliefs may not align with the band.
I’m very happy to say that the new Close Your Eyes shows the band at the top of their game. The addition of Sam Robinson worked out as the perfect fit for a band who was clearly not willing to settle for anything less. The band's third LP, Line In The Sand, is enough proof of all that. While it’s not without missteps, this is the best Close Your Eyes has had to offer in their whole career.
Tracklist:
1. Deus Ex Machina
2. Burdened By Hope
3. Days Of Youth
4. Line In The Sand
5. Frame And Glass
6. Sleeping Giant (Feat. Tommy Green)
7. Kings Of John Payne
8. No Borders!
9. The End (Feat. Zoli)
10. Higher Than My Station
11. Skeletons
12. Trends And Phases
13. Glory
14. My Way Home
15. Follow The Sun
RIYL: The Ghost Inside, Silverstein, Miles Away
Rating:
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