Chester Bennington is back, but he’s got some new faces with him. Instead of his usual Linkin Park bandmates, Chester has a brand new group of guys behind him. With Julien-K members Ryan Shuck, Amir Derakh, Brandon Belsky and Elias Andra and Anthony “Fu” Valcic, Dead By Sunrise merges two powerhouses and brings together unique styles of rock moguls.
The debut album of Dead By Sunrise — entitled Out of Ashes — has been in the works for a while, and the world finally gets to hear it. Actually, that’s not true; fans were able to listen to the album in its entirety a few days before its release. Here, I’ve got a track by track review of the amazing material Chester pumped out this time, all rated out of 10 stars.
1. Fire
This is the opening track, and it speaks volumes despite not being the hardest one. It seems to be about losing a loved one and not wondering about where they are now, but knowing and making piece with it. Anyone who’s lost someone close to them may find peace with Chester’s smooth vocals singing, “you’re looking down upon me.” 8.5/10 stars.
2. Crawl Back In
We get our first glimpse of the darkness of Out of Ashes through this lead single. Though it’s remotely reminiscent of Linkin Park, it’s obvious from the gate that this is left field from Chester’s roots. The intense guitar rifts coupled with strong vocals make this no song to screw with. 9/10 stars.
3. Too Late
A reoccurring theme on the album is Chester’s personal life and his past drug and alcohol addictions. “Too Late” may also bring in elements of his divorce four years ago from his first wife. It’s a little slower than most, but still dark with its soft and painful lyrics. Chester’s singing voice sounds sweeter than ever. 9/10 stars.
4. Inside of Me
One fan wrote in his review that you should expect a few traffic infractions and points off of your license for listening to this song while driving. He was absolutely right! An interesting guitar rift is the foundation for the quick and steady beat, and Chester’s metal voice is back in full effect. If you’re not banging your head to this one, you’re no rock fan. 9.5/10 stars.
5. Let Down
Reverting back to the slower, enchanting singing is “Let Down.” This one also rings with elements of Chester’s painful divorce and personal life. His voice is as smooth and silky as ever, and with a little help with background vocals you’ll be singing along with this one without a doubt. 9/10 stars.
6. Give Me Your Name
“Give Me Your Name” lifts the dark mood of the album. It’s about falling in love and being with a woman the writer (Chester, maybe?) feels strongly for. This one is also a slower track, quite whimsical in tune. It almost seems as though Chester is walking with a woman on the beach! You’ll fall in love as soon as it hits your ears. 9/10 stars.
7. My Suffering
Now we’re back to the gut-busting metal growls and slicing lyrics. It’s apparent that this song has some reference to Chester’s struggles with drugs and alcohol (“I’ve seen the devil in a smile / I found salvation in a vile”). You should be careful with this one too; you could get in trouble on the road if you’re driving and listening at the same time. 7.5/10 stars.
8. Condemned
This is possibly the most gruesome song on the album — hence its title. When Chester said some of this material was too dark for Linkin Park, he was probably thinking about this song. The lyrics will make you cringe and turn your stomach at some points, but it’s so sickeningly sweet you’ll listen to it over and over. 9/10 stars.
9. Into You
We take it back down a notch for this one. It touches on the same concept as “Give Me Your Name” with a little bit of “Inside of Me” mixed in. Chester’s past (“I’m a man whose tragedies have been replaced with memories tattooed upon my soul”) and present (“smoke another cigarette, it kills the pain that’s all that’s left of me anymore”) seem to clash here. 8/10 stars.
10. End of the World
This is the best song on the album. It’s a very in-your-face track about all the corruption in politics, the problems with the economy and the violence in our schools and on our streets. True to the last line! Not to mention the killer beat and nasty vocals. It might make you cynical, but the truth hurts sometimes. 10/10 stars.
11. Walking In Circles
Such an eerie song! It’s the runner-up behind “End of the World.” You could become hypnotized listening to this song. It’s about no one wanting to “rock the boat” as they say. No one wants to stir things up and get in trouble, and no one wants to feel their pain so we all sleep through life. People aren’t learning from their mistakes either, hence “walking in circles / trapped in their dreams / unhealthy, unclean.” The vocals are incredibly enticing and you won’t be able to resist swaying along. 10/10 stars.
12. In the Darkness
Infidelity is never the most pleasant subject, but this song seems to delve right into it. While some may think it’s about making love to someone you deeply love, I think it’s the opposite; making love to the wrong person or cheating on someone (“I wanna cut through my skin,” “My heart aches at the sight of you / trembles and quakes within sight of you,” “what is becoming of my heart and mind.”). Really, it could be interpreted either way. With this one, Chester wraps up an album sure to hook anyone in and keep you wanting more! 9.5/10 stars.
Lyrics = 9.5/10 stars
Beats = 9.5/10 stars
Themes = 10/10 stars
Final album rating: 9.5 out of 10 stars
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