Album Review: Give Me Infinity

Exit Ten at their best, big choruses, unpredictable melodies and punchy riffs – Give Me Infinity
journeys towards a dramatic sound that progresses from previous releases.

On first hearing the track ‘Curtain Call’, the album’s first single, I wasn’t convinced that Give Me Infinity was going to live up to the hype. I still think ‘Curtain Call’ might be one of the album’s weaker tracks but maybe this exemplifies how strong the track listing is. When I first checked out the album however, there was none of this uncertainty. Not a trace. Personally, I think this album takes steps forward from their previous releases, and the tracks undeniably breed a more mature sound- A sound really worth sampling.

Give Me Infinity is an album where the tracks really come together, and whilst they sound great individually listening to them as a collective seems to complement the overall sound. The sense of atmosphere is incredible, for the album kicks off with the track ‘Life’ where the intro seems like an overdriven, metal Halloween soundtrack but quickly transforms into one of their typically Exit Ten-esque heavier tracks. As the tracks play out, Give Me Infinity seems to shift from the big heavy riffs towards a more melodic and built up climax. However, for me this is the only negative to place against Give Me Infinity, it seems to end in a slightly watered down sound. The final three tracks ‘Smoke’, ‘Mountain’ and ‘Lion’ are all good tracks in their own right, but contain a slightly more melodic progression than those exhibited earlier in the album. The consequence being that the album finishes not on a single calmer song, but through having three simultaneously there seems to be a sense of lulling, and by the time the album has finished the huge sounds from the beginning and middle seem completely removed.

Exit Ten have continued in creating a sound that has real intrigue, and although they are frequently associated with metal, hardcore and screamo bands Give Me Infinity distances them from the commonplace and defines them in their own sound bracket. The middle of the album is where the sound peaks with massive tracks like ‘Suggest A Path’ and ‘Drama’ really summarising the sound of Give Me Infinity. The sound of this album somehow manages to sound incredibly polished and systematic whilst sounding completely raw and spontaneous and this combination works into an exhibition of great musicianship.

The album fluctuates between heavy riffs and catchy melodies of a calmer nature, and possesses vocals that really set them apart from standard metal bands. After the critical success of the album Remember The Day released in 2008, and the anticipation that has built up surrounding their latest release, and second studio album Give Me Infinity, Exit Ten have not disappointed. The album captures everything that was great from Remember The Day, and translates it into these eleven tracks but build upon it. This album has got to be one of the best metal releases this year, and with a sound that really pops out from the mainstream is worth having a listen to. Big vocals, huge choruses, heavy riffs and catchy melodies capture drama and atmosphere on a huge scale within Give Me Infinity.

Tracks to sample:
Suggest A Path
Drama
Sunset

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