Album Review: The Word Alive – Hard Reset (Thriller Records)

The Word Alive alchemise hard rock, electronic, and metal into a distinct breed of alternative all their own. The gold-certified Phoenix, AZ outfit blur genre lines with a bold balance of infectiousness and intensity underlined by cinematic scope. After quietly generating nearly 1 billion streams, playing sold out shows on a consistent basis, and attracting a diehard audience, they level up once more on their seventh full-length offering and 2023 debut for Thriller Records, Hard Reset. Out on August 25th, 2023.

One of the biggest alternative bands in the world based off their insane streaming numbers, The Word Alive have been delighting listeners for around 15 years, yet show no signs of slowing down as they release yet another hefty slab of anthemic brilliance. Hard Reset is this band through and through. Everything they offer, everything listeners enjoy, everything they excel at, all thrown into one complete album and the end result is simply phenomenal.

Kicking things off with a bit of a rager, The Word Alive Is Dead… is The Word Alive at their most intense sounding. Layered with their inimitable alt-vibes and experimental melodies, it reaches a powerful apex and ends up being quite bloody heavy.

The title track and Strange Love then reacclimatise listeners to their use of electronica, but this is also The Word Alive at their heaviest sounding too. The bursts of speed, electronica layers that give them a cinematic feel, and melodious choruses make them both sure-fire hits.

The first of many guests make their appearance on One of Us, The Word Alive joined by rock heavyweights Bad Omens for an anthem that will get a stupid amount of radio play thanks to its accessible alt-groove and singalong chorus. Elsewhere, the alt-rockers Loveless help make Hate Me an earnest hit, Escape the Fate join The Word Alive for a slamming blast of danceable energy called Fade Away, and Normandie get weird and experimental with A New Empty. A bunch of talented bands and artists working with a band like The Word Alive can only every result in bangers.

Around those tracks, The Word Alive deliver more creative listens with New Reality, an example of how their experimentation never takes away from their overall anthemic qualities. As well as Slow Burn, a track that is heart-wrenchingly melodic, and Static Rain, a track that is unbelievably infectious and showcases the cleverness that comes from The Word Alive’s electronica and cinematic touches.

This album is going to give fans so much joy, and everyone will have their own favourite track. One that is sure to resonate is the intriguing mix of experimentation and straight-forward rocking vigour that comes from Invisible Army. Although, it is very easy to see everyone loving the panic-inducing fieriness and wandering melody of Nocturnal Future. It’s really hard not to love The Word Alive when they combine such intensity with such dreaminess.

Finally, it’s one more guest as From First to Last join the band on the closing track, War With You. One last big, bouncy, soul-touching effort to end the album on a very big high. After 51 minutes of music, you should be feeling exhausted, but instead, you’re left wanting more. The Word Alive have killed it… again.

The Word Alive – Hard Reset Track Listing:

1. The Word Alive Is Dead…
2. Hard Reset
3. Strange Love
4. One of Us (Ft. Bad Omens)
5. New Reality
6. Hate Me (Ft. Loveless)
7. Slow Burn
8. Fade Away (Ft. Escape the Fate)
9. A New Empty (Ft. Normandie)
10. Static Rain
11. Invisible Army
12. Nocturnal Future
13. War With You (Ft. From First to Last)

Links

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram