TEAR OUT THE HEART – DEAD EVERYWHERE

---

Tear Out The Heart came through the gates, guns a-blazing, in the heavy music scene with their debut album Violence in March of 2013. Released through Chicago home-based label Victory Records, Violence was my personal favorite heavy record of 2013. Meaning this band deserves your attention. Our very own Alice Roques reviewed Violence for its release, and you can read her thoughts on that record right here.

Dead, Everywhere was released January 27th 2015, and is Tear Out The Heart’s sophomore follow-up to Violence, which brought the band into the recording studio over the summer of 2014. Having to yield their spot on the Vans Warped Tour 2014 in efforts to make Dead, Everywhere a reality, the band wasted no time going into the studio with Beartooth’s Caleb Shomo, who also had made a special guest appearance on Violence. In vocalist Tyler Konersman’s own words, “With this new record, we really tried to push ourselves, both artistically and emotionally—almost to the point of snapping. Only through the darkest of times can you truly appreciate the light. The outcome was Dead, Everywhere.”

Dead, Everywhere begins with the title track as vocalist Tyler Konersman sets the tone of the album with a unique setup of slam-poetry resonating through a tape-reel in the background. Tyler’s words portray the “chaos-breeds-hope” theme of the album. Spoken words such as “Inspired to create/driven by hate” and “the world’s corrupt/our lives forever fucked/yet we still believe in the story book ending” show the narrative the band is trying to tell. Dead, Everywhere is every bit the follow-up to Violence it should be. Set with a much darker overtone, Dead, Everywhere produces an onslaught of 14 diverse tracks that take you through a journey of musical evolution, as the band gains traction within their own distinct musical personality. As the album progresses, it turns from more melodic to steadily more heavy, and experimental.
The music begins after the poetic title track, and erupts into the band’s first single, and stand-out track “Feel Real” where the band flexes its muscles, and sinks its teeth into the ears of the listener. “Feel Real” is an excellent example of a throwback, or sequel, to some of the most noteworthy tracks from Violence, yet baring a step of the band’s evolution. The song is every bit as heavy, and melodic vocally, as you would expect from the previous Tear Out The Heart release. Tyler Konersman unleashes Godzilla-like belching screams, that play nicely alongside bassist/vocalist Isaac Etter’s hook-line-and-sinker catchy cleans. The perfect storm culminates while just standing short of the shore of an impending ocean of a breakdown. Tyler delivers one of the most poignant of lines, and definitely one for the rowdiest of the band’s fans, “Life doesn’t fight fair, so why should I?” followed by a jolting step into the slamming of the waves, produced by the crashing of the instruments.

Watch Tear Out The Hearts Official “Feel Real” Music Video

[embedplusvideo height=”350″ width=”600″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/1yZPjQh” standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/X6alTWAC66Y?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=X6alTWAC66Y&width=600&height=350&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep2594″ /]

Following up the first single of the record, the band spares no time unleashing their second single “I’ve Got Secrets” which is undoubtedly one of the band’s most well-focused, stand-out tracks on the record. If you’re going to listen to any of the songs on this record, the first batch is the band at their best.  “I’ve Got Secrets”  prominently displays the overture of the record with the opening line sung by Isaac Etter throughout, “I’ve got secrets that I’m keeping/ I’ve got demons in my head/I’ve been hoping I stop thinking/And the past would just stay dead,” eloquently inter-woven alongside Tyler Konersman’s almighty growls “I can kick/I can scream/But in the end it won’t change a single thing.” Worthy of noting, “I’ve Got Secrets” exhibits some of the band’s most meaningful lyrical content this record has to offer. Sparing no limitations on melody and musicianship, this song is every bit as heavy and melodic as any outstanding track a metalcore genre-loving fan could come to expect. If I could sum the song up in a few choice words, I would use words like: provoking, and motivating. The song throws you at 100 mph into the breakdown. No where on the record is Godzilla more prevalent than here, as Tyler keeps it real with some of the most ear-shattering roars of this record.

Watch Tear Out The Heart’s Official “I’ve Got Secrets” Music Video

[embedplusvideo height=”350″ width=”600″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/1yZQcsj” standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/5ZgIuQId3Ps?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=5ZgIuQId3Ps&width=600&height=350&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep5443″ /]

The album continues along and descends further into madness with a little more edge, baring a little bit of a personality switch to the djenty side, and  thrown-in subtle electronic effects slightly reminiscent of a Bring Me the Horizon album. Things take a turn for the more electronic side at the opening moments of the track “Breaking Through” and throughout the duration of the album. “Break through” the band does, as they push a little past their comfort zone into the experimental side. This track is super solid nevertheless, which includes a bit of piano among the band’s quality of instrumentals produced by guitarist Josh Spohr, Matthew Murphieu, and drummer Matt Epstein. “Viking Funeral” follows closely behind, and has been a favorite among other critics, and fans alike. Simple, yet ambient, it’s clear that the new directions in the band’s sound begins here. Tear Out The Heart steps back a little closer to routine with “You Are No King” and then weaves back to experimental on the closing tracks of the record. “Error” has some pretty nasty guitar licks, that will leave you with a bit of whiplash, and is sure to be a favorite.

What Tear Out The Heart have delivered is a solid mixture of tracks appeasing original fans of the band accustomed to their debut Violence, and  new-comers alike. This is prevalent not only on the heavier side of things, but the experimental end as well. The band have broadened their style just enough to appeal to a wider-audience. Dead, Everywhere sets the tone of a much darker journey the band is taking the listener on. Open for interpretation, yet stated blatantly in the lyrics, it’s an audio adventure of overcoming the pain life has to offer, the detours of heartbreak, and hope-through-struggle. A tale it is, and one worth your listen. Tear Out The Heart’s Dead, Everywhere deserves to be at the top of your listening list, and is more than worthy of quenching your musical thirst of breakout albums of 2015.

Connect with TEAR OUT THE HEART! (click on the icons):

by Bradford Worthington Skelley, RockRevolt Journalist