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A Skylit Drive - Adelphia [Album]

Hassle Records

by Gillianxoxo, November 13th, 2009 and has been Read 94380 times.
Last Edited by: Jack Stovin November 18th, 2009.

The California sextet, A Skylit Drive, really turned heads with their new second studio length album "Adelphia." The opening track ‘Prelude to a Dream’ is sure to catch attention with the peaceful falsetto of vocalist Michael Jagmin, which then morphs into the powerful scream of screamer, Brian White. Brian White’s screams have evolved from almost whiny to commanding attention. "Adelphia" is the follow up album to 2008’s "Wires and the Concept of Breathing." "Adelphia" is a catchy album. "Adelphia" greatly differs from "Wires and the Concept of Breathing" in many ways.

A Skylit Drive has matured in the past year and you can hear the difference with the tighter instrumental sound and the more precise vocals. In past albums it has sounded as if different members were overstepping each other in the songs, but "Adelphia" has evened out the turns and sounds. Michael Jagmin’s vocals have gotten more defined and are reminiscent of singers like Claudio Sanchez and Anthony Green. The sound of this new album is comparative to if The Devil Wears Prada had a love child with Coheed and Cambria.

The solidity of sound is noticeable in the album defining tracks like ‘Eva the Carrier’ and ‘Children of Adelphia.’ The ever present drums complete the songs ‘Those Cannons Could Sink a Ship,’ and ‘Heaven’ with their accuracy and authority. The one thing all tracks on Adelphia have in common is the powerful (sometimes overpowering) vocals screeched out by Michael Jagmin.

In ‘Children of Adelphia’ the singing is bearable, even pleasant. However in ‘Air the Enlightenment’ it is best just to focus on the melodic piano in the background. The song ‘Boy Without a Demon’ gets off to a fast start but gradually slows down and gives the listener a nice break from the brutal screams that occupy the majority of the tracks on the songs on "Adelphia." ‘Worlds End in Whispers Not Bangs’ provides an enjoyable interlude that proves how tight the instrumentals on the album really are.

The mixture of piano, keyboard, and synths on "Adelphia" provide true musical diversity. Even though much has changed with A Skylit Drive since "Wires and the Concept of Breathing," one thing hasn’t; the superb lead guitar played by Joey Wilson adds depth to each and every song. His playing is so intricate and exact. The vocals on "Adelphia" are varied, switching between whispers and actual melodic singing, and sometimes spoken word. "Adelphia" is the first album A Skylit Drive has made with new label, Fearless Records. Much has changed with this band, but one thing for sure, A Skylit Drive has put a great deal of effort into "Adelphia," and it’s audible.