Album Review: Sleeping With Sirens - Let's Cheers To This

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy…"

I would never start an album review with the above (apart from now, but I’m making a pedantic point), so why would anyone start an album with the lyrical equivalent: “woah-oh a oh, woah-oh a oh”? Talk about making a terrible impression.

However, for many, the initial impression will be Kellinn Quinn’s vocal range – we are talking some sort of middle ground between Geddy Lee and Cove Rober. It is certainly distinctive – but not unpalatable.

I have spent a fair amount of time trying to decide whether I like this album or not – so taking my mum’s advice, I have drawn up a pros and cons list. The slightly iffy lyrics are offset by the hooks, the ill-judged breakdowns tempered by the moments on songs such as 'Who You Are Now', which attempt to push the album in new musical directions – the completely out of place screams are hard to abide, however.

Comparisons? Well I suppose a ‘recommended if you like’ would include Circa Survive, Saosin and Anberlin – but don’t expect an album that can match anything those three have produced.

The album is best summed up by 'Four Corners and Two Sides' – flashes of quality, but outweighed by overwhelming mediocrity and a few moments of pure crabcore.

2/5

'Let's Cheers To This' by Sleeping With Sirens is available now on Rise Records.

Sleeping With Sirens on Facebook and MySpace.

Nick Robbins