Its always hard when a band's singer singer leaves. Its even harder when a band like Flyleaf loses their singer. Over the first three albums with Lacey Sturm, the band defined their sound and she was becoming one of the most popular singers in hard rock. Sturm announced her departure from the band just before they released their third studio album, New Horizons, back in 2012. It was heartbreaking for every fan and we couldn't believe the news. After Sturm's departure, we learned that Kristen May would be the new vocalist for the band. Her, the fans, and the band all knew that Lacey's shoes would be big ones to fill. I will say, though, that May did a really good job on her first album with the band. I am excited to hear more from the band as they keep getting more and more popular.
The album starts out with the lead single "Set Me On Fire." May wrote the song after reading the book Divergent. Its a song about fitting in and falling in love and eventually everyone is gonna fit in. The second track starts out with a bass guitar, much like the first song on the album. "Magnetic" is about how we are basically a magnet with God. We are always gonna find Him somehow.
"Traitor" is the third track on the album. Satan is always in disguise and we never know where he is hiding. We will sometimes act like he is our friend but he always will betray us. The fourth song on the album features guest vocals by Bec Hollcraft, lead vocalist of the band Stars In Stereo. "Platonic" is about a couple who fights, but eventually breaks up although one of them is still in love.
When Kristen joined the band, she got a lot of death threats and hate mail. She has also mentioned this is really the first time that she experienced bullying and it hurt her. That is exactly what "Head Underwater" is about. "Sober Serenade" is about someone who has a really bad alcohol addiction. A friend is trying to help them but is getting sick of trying to help so she stops.
"Thread" was one of the songs I was looking most forward to hearing because they played it last year when I saw them. The studio version is one of my favorites on the album. We are always barely hanging by a thread and we need God to help us get through life. Satan will tear our parachute but God is there to catch us. If you are looking for a song that sounds like Lacey, "Marionette" is the one for you. Its another song that is talking about May's bullying.
Everyone sins and everyone lies. Sometimes it get so bad that we can't get out. We fall down a "Well of Lies" and we need God to come rescue us. He will come save us if we agree to trust Him. "City Kids" is probably by favorite on the album. It is about a couple who, years later, walk down the street where they fell in love. Much like the street and their houses, they too have changed and are no longer together.
"Blue Roses" is the eleventh track on the album. The song is about a girl who collects roses from every time that she has been hurt by a guy. Red is the color of pain, but the roses will turn blue eventually. "Home" is the closing track on the standard edition of the album. Everyone is hurt and think that they will amount to nothing. This song encourages those who feel like that.
This album is bittersweet and many of us wish Lacey was still in the band but we do not have to worry, as she has a solo album coming next year. May did a very good job filling Lacey's shoes, as hard as it is. This album is different from anything the band has ever done. We have to be appreciative that the four guys didn't just quit doing music. Although, I would have maybe suggested a name change for the band.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Purchase Links: Standard Edition: iTunes, Amazon MP3; Special Edition: iTunes, Amazon MP3
Top 3 Songs: "Home," "City Kids," "Thread"
For Fans Of: Tonight Alive, Icon For Hire, Hinder
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