Any Given Day cover“Overpower” is the third studio album by ANY GIVEN DAY. It was released on March 15th via Arising Empire. “Overpower” is a powerful album, but it definitely shows a shift towards a softer sound, compared to some of the German metalcore band’s earlier songs. The songs are catchy, dynamic and mix heavy with melodic successfully. The lyrical messages are prevalent; they touch on some hard subjects and are presented in a way that is clear, simple and with a lot of emotion. You can find a lot of electronic elements, good riffs, a steady beat and varied vocals in this track list. A mix of harsh and lyrical, modern and retro, dark and optimistic, “Overpower” offers music, which sounds good and combines contrasting elements skillfully.

The opening track, “Start Over”, starts softer and a bit more melodic and then enters its main, heavier part. The song sets the tone for the album, with its alternating of melodic passages with faster and heavier parts, where the rhythm section and core vocals stand out. The lyrics are easy to remember and sing along to and the repeated “Fight” sounds perfect for chanting at concerts. The next song, “Loveless”, is more melancholic and shows a good symbiosis between the vocals and instrumental. The clean and core vocals are performed well and at the right places. There is a slight note of optimism in the darkness, in the repeated phrase: “My broken heart beats loveless, but I’ll find my way back home”. Another song, successfully intertwining optimism in its frustrated melancholy, is “Lonewolf”. The album’s third single is about the outsider, metaphorically represented as a lone wolf. Dark and motivating at the same time, the balladic “Lonewolf” emphasizes on a lyrical sound and clean vocals, while the harsh vocals are used sparingly, but appropriately. The lower vocals in the verses convey the melancholic feel of the song, while the chorus and bridge express more of the frustration and determination, accentuating the loner’s powerful proclamation that he will continue to fight and be himself. The next song, “Devil Inside”, has a heavy, impactful beginning. Great instrumental, but this track is more suitable as a background. Another heavier song is “In Deafening Silence”, which has a blast beat, steady riffs, a good guitar solo and well performed vocal lines. The clean and core vocals are wonderfully combined, especially in the chorus. In this song, you can also hear backup vocals, sung by the guitarist, which are more unexpected – the band’s vocalist usually sings both the clean and harsh vocals – but it’s a pleasant surprise. Another thing, that is surprisingly good, is the slower “Fear”. Some of the electronic elements are an interesting decision, but they aren’t irritating. Dirty sound, beautiful clean vocals, retro references and a few screams for emphasis. The song is more melodic, it has a fairly electronic sound, the vocals are brilliantly performed and convey the emotion and meaning of the lyrics precisely. The final “Never Surrender” also has a retro feel to it in some parts and for some reason makes me think of Corey Taylor. A rhythmic track, suitable for head banging and singing along. An appropriate end for the album – catchy, impactful and optimistic.

“Overpower” is a dynamic, emotional album. It’s not the most interesting album on the market, but it does have something to offer. The electronic elements are like a nod to core from the beginning of the century at places, but it’s still clear, that you’re listening to modern metalcore. The symbiosis between vocal and instrumental, on the one hand, and harsh and clean vocals, on the other, is successful. The core vocals contribute to the sound’s rawness and give the songs more power and impact, while the clean vocals make the songs more melodic and emotional. The instrumentals themselves are good – appropriately used electronic elements, steady beat, satisfactory guitars, pretty good solos in some songs. The most impressive thing in this album are the vocals, conveying the palette of feelings and messages. Melancholy, frustration, fear, desperation, hope, determination, love. Everything is expressed clearly and beautifully through the music and lyrics. The album is dynamic, emotional and unpretentious. It contains songs, suitable for jumping, screaming and concerts. It also has songs, which are, in contrast, perfect for dramatically looking out the window toward the rainy city on a bad day. Music that can make you move, but it also makes you think. A good example of adequately made metalcore, which probably won’t be liked by everyone, but it’s perfectly suited for its target audience.

Rating: 7/10