Aiden - Conviction

Artist: Aiden
Album: Conviction
Release: August 21 2007
Record Label: Victory

Aiden.org
Myspace.com/Aiden

Band Members:
Jake D - Drums
Wil - Vocals
Nick - Bass/Vocals
Angel - Guitar/Vocals
Jake W - Guitar/Vocals



Tracklisting:

1. The Opening Departure
2. She Will Love You
3. Teenage Queen
4. Hurt Me
5. One Love
6. Moment
7. Darkness
8. Son Of Lies
9. Believe
10. Bliss
11. The Sky Is Falling


So, what have Aiden been up to since we last saw them? Well, they've been touring extensively alongside best buddies The Used and they've been holed up in Wil's own built Sleepy Hollow Studios in Nothern Washington where they have been working on their next album.

'Conviction', released on 21st August 2007 has already been branded as one of Kerrang magazine's top Albums to listen to in 2007 and after listening to it from front to back, I can safely say that Aiden have created the best album of their lives.

'The Opening Departure' brings quite a surprise to the ears of people expecting a pounding punk track, instead they are greeted with a mellow, soft ballad track which showcases just how much more professional the album is going to sound compared to their previous two.
On previous albums 'Our Gangs Dark Oath' and 'Nightmare Anatomy' the vocals have often been raw sounding and scratchy, but here they have been given a good reworking and now sound alot more polished and outstanding.

Although at number 3 on the listing, 'Teenage Queen' is the first track on the album which starts to bear a heavier, more punk sound. Within it's soul explodes a headbanging and catchy chorus accompanied by pounding instruments and a funky little rhythm.

The 'Die Romantic' hit song from this album takes it's form in track number 5, 'One Love'. Everything in this track builds up to the insane sing-a-long chorus driven by piano, intricate guitar solos and just damn good song writing. It's going to have any Aiden crowd going absolutely insane for it.

The beginning of the album was very light hearted and a lot softer compared to where we are moving to next. The raw punk sound of Aiden's past pokes it's head through 'Darkness'. It begins with eerie vocals and whispers which build up to amazingly intense guitar solo and crowd inspiring chants.
'Son Of Lies' is also one of the heavier songs on the album and features guest vocals from Efrem Schultz from Death By Stereo. Midway through the track, we can hear marching footsteps making way for the deep powerful bellows from Efrem and nasty vicious sounding shouts from Wil himself. The track is extremely intense and the guest vocals from Efrem really give it a completely different sound from anything else on this album.

'Bliss' is a personal favourite of mine and I believe this track to be about Wil's friend's mum being a prostitute, something he talked about in a recent interview with AmpedReviews.net.
The lyrics paint a dirty sodden picture of a dangerous and unhappy life that sounds like a completely true story due to the pain laden vocals and obvious 'demons inside'.

Conviction ends perfectly with another slow ballad type song, but this time around they decide to chuck in a little dose of punk and more 'World By Storm' sounding 'fist in the air' type chants.
Aiden have come on leaps and bounds with this album. People who have never heard of Aiden are going to discover a brilliant new band and current fans are going to fall in love with the band all over again.


Review by Cherry Pullinger.


You can see the interview with WiL Francis HERE


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