American Arson - "A Line In The Sand" Album Review

American Arson - "A Line In The Sand"

A little well known but well loved punk rock band American Arson set a very high bar with their 2019 release "Rise & Fall", which showed us what they could do with a label behind them and set the tone for what their debut record "A Line In The Sand" would intel; This record not only is American Arson at their best but also shows how much they have grown over the years as a band.

A Line In The Sand feels very timely with today's current events, whether it be the coronavirus pandemic, the racial injustice in the world at large, the protests and riots in our streets, and even the battle between human vs flesh. This record not only is very heavy in it's politics but also in it's spirituality as this is a faith based punk rock album. 

This record is a welcome edition to the Facedown Records lineup, alongside the likes of Deathbreaker and Dens; Facedown Records has had an amazing year so far with bringing newer bands into the limelight and showing off their raw talents as musicians and lyricists.

Drop Your Daggers is an instant favorite with relentless punk rock energy and menacing tone; with the big lyrical high moment of the track really sending it's narrative home. Lead vocalist Evan Baker screams "Brother, Sister: let's unite! Drop Your Daggers, leave the fight!. Our real enemy is neither left or right" as a cry for Americans to stop the fight.

Forever which was the second single off of the record gives off some very strong Rise Against and A Wilhelm Scream vibes as well as the first single and the first taste of the record Unbreakable gave off that vibe as well; with Unbreakable in particular this could become an instant rock favorite amongst rock fans as it's punk and rock & roll energy is perfect for rock radio, and it's chorus which ends with a rallying chant "But I'm gonna stay, Unbreakable" could really get crowds amped up at live shows.

Now the song that closes out the record on it's 37 minute run time is a track that was teased on Easter Sunday called The King Is Alive. Now The King Is Alive is a track that's very reminiscent of tracks like Thrice's The Earth Will Shake, My Epic's Lower Still, Brand New's Jesus Christ, and Kings Kaleidoscope's A Prayer; which sets the tone for an epic closer which is a beautifully written public display of worship, beautifully gruff guitars, fantastic drumming from drummer Jesse Gentry, and an overwhelming source of urgency that perfectly describes the term aggressive worship.

This record is a perfect display of political and spiritually driven rock & roll with heart and merit in today's society. - Samuel Cook

Our rating: 4.5/5
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA

Comments

  1. SoundwaveJuly 4, 2020 at 12:03 PM

    In a time where punk rock is being taken and expanded upon while still keeping it's roots, punk rock and post-hardcore band American Arson hit hard with their sociopolitical punk rock record A Line In The Sand.

    This record not only feels like a middle finger to society as we know it but also feels like a call to arms and a fight against injustice and corruption in the world as we know it.

    The End and Drop Your Daggers are an incredible one-two combo with it's heavy punk rock and hard rock tendencies, Forever and Unbreakable feel like old-school punk rock tracks updated in a modern climate, Stay True reminds me a good bit of bands like Blink-182, Alkaline Trio, Hot Water Music. and The King Is Alive is a beautiful and oddly poetic track that develops as the track progresses.

    I'm not usually a fan of modern day pop punk / punk rock but American Arson with A Line In The Sand have shown me that are still punk bands out there still keeping old-school rooted punk rock true and alive. - Matt Harrington

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  2. SoundwaveJuly 4, 2020 at 12:32 PM

    Christian post-hardcore band American Arson have been having a serious impact in today's modern Christian scene with their overtly spiritual and political hitting rock music. Combining elements of hard rock, post-hardcore, punk rock, and alternative rock; There's not many bands out there like them in the scene right now. And with this record A Line In The Sand the band has proved to us the definition of a modern classic.

    This record gave me American Idiot vibes with how the record tackles it's politics, and the way that guitarist Evan Baker and drummer Jesse Gentry both wrote and pinned the music on this record is jaw dropping.

    With this record you don't hear a generic sounding record; with this record you'll hear a tightly produced, well pinned, and beautifully written record that hits instantly.

    The best tracks off of the record have to be Unbreakable and The King Is Alive; Unbreakable being an instant favorite from the first time I hit play on the record, with it's rhythmic alt rock sound, it's super catchy chorus, and the hook on this track is mesmerizing. And The King Is Alive is truly an honest to goodness spirit led worship track that I don't hear any rock bands making anymore aside from the pop and ccm markets.

    This record is a masterful spiritual rock record that belongs alongside bands like Dens, Abel, Attalus, Thrice, Least Of These and others. A Line In The Sand is truly something remarkable. - James Michael Andrews

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