Asking Alexandria

Like A House On Fire

SUMERIAN

Owning up and owning it.

If this was Asking Alexandria’s second album – following their 2017 self-titled ‘debut’ – they’d be lauded for how their tough, hard-rock sound is shaping up. But it isn’t. This is their sixth album, and they spent the first three building up a solid metalcore fan base on both sides of the Atlantic. That began to crumble when singer Danny Worsnop tore his vocal chords (and/or got tired of screaming, depending on who you believe) and quit in early 2015. He returned the following year after the band’s ill-fated dalliance with a replacement, and the aforementioned self-titled album signalled the change.

Like A House On Fire completes the transition. The Violence and Antisocialist are big-sounding, anthemic rants with hooks, I Don’t Need You is a ballsy ballad and Worsnop’s ‘clean’ vocals are commanding. They even own up on Here’s To Starting Over. Whether it will be heard over the howls of “sell-out” from metalcore fans is another matter. ■■■■■■■■■■