Senses Fail - Life Is Not A Waiting Room

Artist: Senses Fail

Album: Life Is Not a Waiting Room

Label: Vagrant

My history with Senses Fail can be traced back to destinaitonless car rides in the summer of the band's full length debut, Let it Enfold You.  A good buddy of mine burned the single "Buried a Lie" on one of his mix CDs.  After a few listens it soon became the brunt of many emo related jokes, and we laughed at the horrible lyrics involving some depressed freak digging up his dead girlfriend and preforming an autopsy.  Needless to say, when they released their follow-up album in 2006 I completely ignored it, assuming it was simply more of the same wrist slitting emo.  But then in 2008 the band released their latest album, Life is Not a Waiting Room to shockingly favourable reviews.  I held out for quite some time, but then curiosity got the best of me and I gave it a listen.  

Upon my first run-through I waited for the whinny cringe inducing vocals and boring pop-punk guitar riffs - but the combination never came.  I did hear the same almost tolerable emo vocals, but they were supported by a slew of ferocious guitar solos and some really high energy rock tunes.  For their latest album, the band draws quite heavily on the technically complex styles that many post-hardcore bands lean on.  The metal influenced guitar solos on tracks like "Lungs Like Gallows" and "Wolves at the Door" were my biggest surprises.  Their solos would sound right at home in any respectable power-metal band's album.  Still, other tracks draw on additional influences.  "Family Tradition" and "Hair of the Dog" opens with chords that wouldn't sound out of place on an Angels and Airwaves album, and "Map The Streets" features a catchy chorus that sounds heavily influenced by contemporaries Taking Back Sunday.  

Unfortunately, in tracks like "Four Years" James Neilson relapses to his previous unbarable vocal style, but thankfully from time to time the band's uncredited screamo specialist jumps in to mix things up and share the spotlight with Neilson.  Furthermore, Neilson's vocals are generally less whinny than on his debut, consequently enhancing most tracks' listenability.  Unfortunately the band's painfully cliched lyrics still define most songs, but the increased instrumental complexity often had me ignoring Neilson's words in favour of the guitar solos and melodies.  

Based on my history with Senses Fail, I really can't believe how much I've enjoyed Life Is Not A Waiting Room.  Needless to say, Senses Fail fans should love this release.  And if you've hated the band up until this point, then it is time to give them a second shot.