With the very first song of 2012's
Outlive You All,
I Am War make it immediately obvious they are not ones to mince words. Said song, "Don't Worship Assholes," is but the first of numerous screeds condemning rank stupidity, abject complacency, and conformity at large, as evidenced by additional self-fulfilling track titles like "Lead by Liars," "My Love Affair with Disaster," and... "Uninvite Me to Your Facebook Party"? Really? If only the band's musical abilities carried anywhere near as much verve or versatility, but, unfortunately, relentless metallic hardcore intensity and violence are the best
I Am War can do, and there's a reason why. Turns out the "band" is nothing more than a hastily assembled bro-core love-in between vocalists
Alex Varkatzas (of
Atreyu) and
Brandan Schieppati (
Bleeding Through), who also handles guitar and bass duties here, backed up by
Mick Kenney on drums and, one would assume, countless Pro Tools megabytes. Not to diminish the group's individual qualifications, as these are obviously supported by the success of their other musical pursuits, but in the case of
Outlive You All, that fine line between earnest artistic intentions and self-indulgent inside-joke-cum-easy-cash-in is crossed way too many times. Listeners who feel they may perhaps be privy to these inside jokes and the heated diatribes they inform, or feel content to get their heads bashed in by tunes bearing no discernible greater ambitions (and marked by a nonexistent melodic sensibility), may just get their money's worth with
Outlive You All. But anyone harboring higher expectations based on the output of the other bands helmed by those involved in
I Am War will probably be just as happy giving this album a pass. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia