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Review: From First To Last - Dead Trees

From First To Last, the alternative rock/ post-hardcore band based in Arizona has finally released a follow-up to their 2010 album "Throne To The Wolves". This is the first album featuring Spencer Sotelo of Periphery on vocals. From First To Last has gone through so many lineup it's interesting to think how this lineup may collaborate. And let me just tell you: not well. 

The first song "Heresy" is a false beginning to a very mediocre album.  It doesn't really act as an intro as much as it does a filler. It goes right into the next song "Straight To The Face". It's then you start to realize there is no lyrical depth to this album. There isn't much depth of anything to this album. It's just a mashup of drums, guitars and bad screaming. 

Skipping later into the album, I tried to find a redemption track. Here's the thing: There is none. From First To Last has made a grave mistake in this album. Spencer sounds very whiny on almost every track and his voice doesn't go very well with the instrumentation. The ending of the album (without the bonus tracks) "I Don't Wanna Live In The World", is a bad ending to this album. It whines about how the real world is horrible and hard to manage. 

This album is almost unlistenable. I don't see how many people could find any sort of redemption in this album. Whenever From First To Last originally raised $30,000 for a new EP, they should have stuck to the idea. Using only the assumed $30,000 on an entire album was a bad idea and a major dis-service to the fans and new listeners alike. I'm going to give this album a 3 out of 10 stars, because of how From First To Last had at least 2 years as a band  to write more lyrically-fulfilling tracks and better instrumentation.