The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/24/09 Section: Variety

Hell or High Water [Click to enlarge]

It's amazing what a little adversity can do.

Three years after nearly breaking up, Louisiana-based indie rock band As Cities Burn has released perhaps its finest album, "Hell or High Water."

Tuesday's album release, not to mention 2007's "Come Now Sleep," wouldn't have been possible had it not been for an outcry of fan support following former front man T.J. Bonnette's exit from the group.

After Bonnette left As Cites Burn, the group contemplated breaking up. But the fans wouldn't have it.

Now, three years later, the group is still doing what it does best, but only after regrouping and retooling.

With Bonnette at the helm, the group's first album, "Son, I Loved You At Your Darkest," was an all-out assault in screamo rock that saw them signed by Tooth & Nail Records.

But following Bonnette's exit, As Cities Burn moved away from its screamo roots and embraced an indie sound in "Come Now Sleep." Bonnette's brother, Cody, took over vocal duties, and it was a complete departure from the guttural screaming of the original vocalist.

And "Hell or High Water" continues in that same vein, but with some noticeable tweaks.

As Cities Burn sticks with the indie rock sound that made "Come Now Sleep" a hit, but the quartet also briefly dabbles in the realms of Southern rock and English pub rock.

In a couple of songs, "Hell or High Water" also has the band experiment with sparse music, relying heavily on Cody Bonnette's vocals.

The group kicks off "Hell or High Water" with a rousing opener in "'84 Sheepdog." Completely forgetting its newfound sound, As Cities Burn's "'84 Sheepdog" is an uptempo opener that features guest screaming from T.J. Bonnette, letting fans reminisce on the group's early screamo days.

The next song, "Errand Rum," heads in a couple different directions. Beginning with a catchy, meandering guitar riff, the song quickly leads into what resembles a drunken pub chant with blaring horns. From there it's all-out jubilation.

Continued...

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