Band : Story Of The Year
Album title : The Constant
Label : Epitaph
Distributor : PIAS
Release date : 15/02/2010
Release : CD

As I’ve done a extensive history-of-the-band story with the release of this St. Louis (Missouri) based American band’s last album Black Swan (see review posted 11/05/2008 and also check out follow-up bit on the occasion of the release of single The Antidote, posted 12/10/2008), that’s one bit I can leave behind. Something I’d missed out on at hat time, was the fact that the band was also working on a DVD titled Our Time Is Now, which was released in May 2008. Need to mention two extra updates: 1) In February 2009 the band confirmed (on their MySpace) that they had recorded a cover of the song “Just Close Your Entrance”, to be used as an entrance for EWC champion Christian. 2) The band shot a video clip for the Black Swan song “Terrified” in March 2009!

In May 2009 guitarist Ryan Phillips announced that the band had begun “working overtime writing” their new album, and was “shaping up to be fuckin’ great”. Recordings for the album were done in July and August at Studio Barbarossa with producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette (co-producer on Black Swan alongside John Feldman). In late October, the band posted the song “To The Burial” on their Facebookpage, and released it through the iTunesmusic store one month later. The song “I’m Alive” was premiered by bassist Adam Russell and Phillips on St. Louis’ The Point radio station on December 10, the album version then released to radio airplay on December 31 and issued as the album’s official first single on January 5, 2010. To benefit the release of the album, the band not only had an album signing session & played an acoustic set at St. Louis’ Vintage Vinyl store on the release date, but also a concert at their hometown’s The Pageant venue on March 4. Featuring support bands Building Rome, outRAGEus, and Soul Decenders, tickets were available exclusively to fans whom had bought the album at the just mentionedstore.

Lyrically, the band is very socio-politically aware, which is definitely the reason why they were signed to Epitaph for their previous album. Somewhat of a concept album, The Constant is about the consistent positive entity music has been in their lives. Obviously, SOTY has also posted both songs mentioned in the previous paragraph of this review at myspace.com/storyoftheyear. Although the situation might change in the near future, these two remain the only songs posted here for the time being, so if you need to hear more to be convinced that this is a band you need to be buying the new album of, check out the other songs posted. I mean, obviously you’ve not been exposed to SOTY music yet, because if that had been the case, you would hardly need any convincing at all, knowing in advance that the music this band makes is really quite exceptional! As mentioned in earlier reviews, the band’s music has a high Metal content of the “Alternative Rock” type (why not use that term, since the band does it too). Whaling guitars, wonderful high-pitch (but not ridiculously so) lead and backing vocals, the whole put together in a highly melodic matrix which simply invítes people to sing along. If the posted songs still ain’t enough to turn you over to the SOTY side of life, try to catch the band in live conditions. For the rest of March and the first part of April, they’re still touring in the States, but starting April 15 they’ll be in Europe. For Belgium, this means they’ll be playing GroezRock for the second time in 2 years – check the Marquee tent on April 24. For all other dates (including the remaining US ones) check the band’s MySpace or their own website storyoftheyear.net.

My end conclusion? I gave The Constant’s predecessor a mere 92/100 rating…with the new album the quintet has proven to be of a constant high quality…one which has seen me reluctant to start on the review (because that’s always the beginning of a sorts of departing from it)…and therefore the album definitely deserves to be placed in my year-lists!

98/100

Tony.