March 2019 seems like a decade ago. That’s when we were introduced to the Michigan post-hardcore band Boy Becomes Hero.
They had just released their first album, Reverie, a Kurt Travis-narrated concept album. It seemed like a lofty debut, and it was. The question of how it would be followed up was answered in the form of multiple singles that led up to the release of their new LP, Escape Artist.
This is the band’s second full length album and serves as a prelude to Reverie.
It’s a self-proclaimed “horror album” where we see a lot more guest appearances that enhance the experience. Garrett Rapp returns as Ninjen, Jonny Craig appears as Ajna, and Jonathan Gearing (The Devil Wears Prada) lends a hand with programming and keys that shows this story taking a much darker turn.
The story follows Amatera (Andrew Brittingham) as he struggles with toxic relationships, mistakes he will make and has made, and searches for Restitution, by creating a life of atonement.
Ninjen and Ajna help our anti-hero, while captive upon a siren’s ship, find positivity and a healthy mental state in order to let go of the past and focus on the present and the future.
You can immediately feel a darker atmosphere beginning with the first track “Efficacy/Flexibility”.
The whole album has a definite Deftones influence to it. Extremely hard guitar riffs and screams mixed with tons of melody and atmosphere.
This album is certainly a logical evolution for the BBH project. The overall mix and master on Escape Artist is much cleaner and it seems to convey emotion a bit better than it’s predecessor.
I know the term “concept album” turns some noses up but I can honestly say THIS is the way one should be executed.
There’s no sense that it’s convoluted or pretentious.
As a matter of fact, I’d say it’s quite the opposite. Andrew is very good at conveying real emotion in a way that isn’t irritating. Escape Artist as a whole is extremely listenable for any post hardcore fan.
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