Review: As It Is - I WENT TO HELL AND BACK
As It Is
I WENT TO HELL AND BACK
Brighton based rock band As It Is burst back onto the music scene with the release of their angst fuelled album I WENT TO HELL AND BACK.
★ ★ ★ ★
February saw Patty Walters, Ronnie Ish and Alistair Testo release their fourth studio album, the much anticipated I WENT TO HELL AND BACK. Not only is this the first album that As It Is have recorded in the past four years, but it is also the first time the band have released music since the departure of members Ben Langford-Biss and Patrick Foley.
As It Is’ third album, The Great Depression, released in 2018, saw the band take on a darker, grittier aesthetic. Their latest album appears to be a fitting following up. It is still bleak in tone but contains many of the pop-punk elements that are typical of the band.
From the offset, the title I WENT TO HELL AND BACK informs listeners that they are about to be taken on an emotional journey through the band’s personal struggles and tribulations. The simple, but effective artwork features a lone man standing in a brightly lit doorway, surrounded by black. Upon closer inspection, the man’s shadow is discovered to be an outline of a skeleton – a macabre indication of the album’s bleak mood.
It is evident that As It Is have been inspired by the chaos, turmoil and uncertainty that has taken place over the past two years. Unlike some, As It Is are not afraid to lay their emotions bare and confront their struggles head-on. In the opening song, ‘IDGAF’, Patty questions his self-worth and experiences intense feelings of hopelessness, despair and confusion. Meanwhile, ‘I DIE 1000x’ conveys the difficulties of facing daily life and having to relive the same dismal experiences over and over again.
‘I MISS 2003’, which features a catchy hook, zingy guitar riffs and a singalong chorus, is most characteristic of As It Is. The song has a nostalgic quality and encourages listeners to reminisce about their past. Regardless of whether or not 2003 was the listener’s heyday, the song takes the hearer back to a time when life was much simpler and happier.
What is most unique about the album is the contrast between the upbeat melodies and the poignant lyrics. A number of songs open with a bouncy tempo, yet quickly delve into topics such as depression, regret and self-loathing. ‘IDC, I CAN’T TAKE IT’, for example, loops a spritely, toe-tapping tune, but tells the story of an individual battling with their mental health and becoming numb to the world around them. Hearing this playoff between the music and lyrics for the first time certainly catches the listener by surprise and stirs their intrigue.
Overall, I WENT TO HELL AND BACK combines pop-punk instrumentals with bleak, often gothic lyrics. The album largely centres around feelings of despondency, dejection and depression. However, the album reminds listeners that they are not alone in their struggles and can push through their hardships, ultimately coming out stronger in the end. As It Is have channelled their angst and frustration into producing a collection of songs that are raw, emotive and honest. The album is most definitely worth listening to and has earned a solid four stars.