Resound Radio | Album Reviews

Come Now Sleep

As Cities Burn | August 14th, 2007

When As Cities Burn unleashed their debut album, Son, I Loved You at Your Darkest on the world in 2005 many considered it to be an instant hardcore classic. Then to the dismay of fans the band announced in 2006 that they had decided to break up, due to lead singer TJ Bonnette leaving to pursue marriage. However, they would complete a last farewell tour as a thank you to their fans. The band found new life during that tour and decided to continue on with TJ's brother, Cody, taking over lead vocals, signaling a change in sound for the band. This brings us to their new, wide spanning and epic album, Come Now Sleep.

This album leaves much of the chaotic screaming and hard metal riffs of Son behind. Instead it is replaced with a more experimental progressive rock feel and almost no screaming at all. The album begins with the jazzy “Contact” that creates a quiet and somber opening to the album as Cody almost whispers through his words that are truly beautiful. The album then tears through the lead single “Empire” (featured on Resound Radio), “The Hoard”, and “This Is It, This Is It”. All three songs are furiously paced with most looking at grace and redemption with moments of near lyrical perfection such as Cause I was a Pharisee / I never saw my need for grace / Then your love came to me / stood next to mine / and I saw that I was poor. The album then delves into its second half beginning with “Clouds.” This song examines how small we try to make God in our minds. The album runs through the next two songs which are lyrically tied together before reaching the final three tracks on the record that serve as a quiet and slow-paced ending. Beginning with “Wrong Body” and then moving into the wonderfully written “Our World Is Grey” with heart breaking words such as I'm sure if you wanted to stop love / You could just untie your end and let it go / But, my God, you don't / Yeah, I think I love you for it. The album ends with one of the most heart wrenching and beautiful songs I've heard in a while. “Timothy” explores the death of a close friend and the grief of that experience but the song still portrays the assurance of God's peace in the situation.

Come Now Sleep in one word would be described as beautiful. It's hard to find flaws in this album because it's obvious the band poured their heart and souls into the album. The only minor complaint I have is the mix can be a little rough at times. Again, it's only a minor setback. If you purchase one album this year make it Come Now Sleep. It may be something different than the debut from As Cities Burn and may take some getting used to but it is one of the most spiritually challenging albums to be released in years.

Reviewed by Christopher Powers on October 12th, 2007

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