We’ve checked out the TOP 7 BANDS THAT CHANGED THEIR STYLE AND DIDN’T SUCK, but what about on the flip side? The bands we wish had kept their original sound? There are plenty and we’ve traipsed through the archives and come up with the bands we deemed most worthy…or unworthy depending how you look at it!
7. THE AMITY AFFLICITION – From Metalcore to Popcore (? – I made that up 😊)
The boys from Queensland started off as metalcore with just a tinge of clean vocals here and there. Looking back at the band’s first two albums, Severed Ties (2008) and Youngbloods (2010), the band were clearly at their most aggressive. Sure, bands get older, they develop their sound, and hell, TAA are still a killer band, but to be perfectly honest they were best served in ‘beast mode’ with front man, Joel Birch going full blitzkrieg. Notable mentions 'FruityLexia', 'I Hate Hartley', 'Severence' and 'Youngbloods'.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3Nl0d3YFVo&w=640&h=360]
Fast forward to the band’s 5th album, 2016’s This Could Be Heartbreak and they’ve transformed into something more pop punk with dollops of metalcore here and there. It’s what I would imagine Blink 182 sounding if they went metalcore? The track, ‘All Fucked Up’ a clear pointer to a WTF moment in the band’s career. Again, a lot of fans like this transformation, but give us TAA ‘beast mode’ any day . Either way, the band is still killing it and this pick is sure to cause some angst amongst the Amity fan club.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71nakCVA7eI&w=640&h=360]
6. SUICIDE SILENCE – From Deathcore to Alternative Metal
Ok, so we all know the death of original SS vocalist, Mitch Lucker in 2012 may have brought with it some eventual change to the band dynamics but wowsers, the band definitely hit that fork in the road moment on their latest album, the self-titled release of 2016. Lucker recorded three albums with the band, improving on each one with that deathcore sound and killer breakdowns a trademark of the band's early range. Check out this track, ‘Unanswered’ from 2007 album, Cleansing.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Yr5rn3Sv_4&w=640&h=360]
New vocalist, Hernan "Eddie" Hermida has since recorded two albums with the band but has ended up sounding like a Chino Moreno (Deftones) wannabe on several tracks. Apparently, this was a concerted effort by the band to change their sound. We’re not sure why.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_qNVDOeCag&w=640&h=360]
5. SILVERCHAIR – From Hard Rock/Grunge to Art Pop Rock
It’s hard to remember that the trio from Newcastle kicked off with one of the great Australian rock debuts, Frogstomp as 15/16-year-olds! It’s almost unheard of across music history in the world, let alone Australia. Frogstomp was an instant classic featuring ‘Israel’s Son’, ‘Tomorrow’ and ‘PureMassacre’. It catapulted the band into the international limelight as the band piggy backed the grunge movement of the time.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6wMH2AGbwg&w=640&h=360]
12 years later, 2007’s Young Modern album would be Silverchair’s last, and perhaps we could see the writing on the wall with previous releases, Diorama and to a lesser example, Neon Ballroom. Daniel Johns and co were getting more and more mainstream, introducing more weird guests, more electronic and by the time Young Modern hit were hardly recognisable to the band of the previous decade. Art Pop Rock. #pass
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADHnutcEoMg&w=640&h=360]
4. IN FLAMES – From Death Metal to Alternative Metal/Rock
The Swedish death metal band, In Flames started in 1990, recording a whopping 12 albums, including last year’s Battles. Throughout the ‘90s the band were predominantly thrown into the death metal category, blending melody in some choruses not too unlike Soilwork. Heavy riffs, growling vocals.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qa9-mbMUT8&w=640&h=360]
2002, however saw the band dip its toes into more "accessible" music for the masses and hence from that day forth divided many of their more death metal fan base. Another six or seven albums on and the sound has been getting more and more watered down on each album with 2016’s Battles an over produced, teen angst wannabe waltz. The band has defended their sound numerous occasions across the last 15 or so years but it’s the old school songs that still garner the most action when they play live.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgLc3DQFXQM&w=640&h=360]
3. PARAMORE – From Alternative Rock to Emo Pop
Since 2004, Tennessee’s Paramore have been bouncing across stages playing a blend of alternative rock/pop-punk, with the sultry vocals of Hayley Williams leading the way. Their songs were a blend of teenage angst and punk ideologies and quickly the band rose to stardom including being nominated and occasionally winning several awards across their career.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCyGvGEtOwc&w=640&h=360]
Enter 2017 and their new album, After Laughter, the Paramore version of the band is now a far cry from 2005’s All We Know Is Falling. The band have gone full emo pop. We’re talking synthesised beats, 80s pop electro and it has many fans from the mid 00’s questioning whether or not Paramore is still actually deemed an alternative option at all. Personally, I can see some of these new tracks alongside a Miley Cyrus tour? I think I was just sick in my mouth.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEB6ibtdPZc&w=640&h=360]
2. MUSE – From Alternative Rock to EDM/Pop Rock
The UK’s Muse may have started as a band in 1994 but their debut didn’t happen until 1999’s Showbiz automatically landing themselves as a rockier version of Radiohead. 2001’s even more riff based, Origin of Symmetry took the band to another level, the album itself eventually landing on many a magazine’s 100 Greatest Albums of the Decade lists such was its impact.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Yc3HhSl1Q&w=640&h=360]
Seven albums into a career that has the band delving more and more into electronica, even dub step at different points across the last few albums and whilst now and gain you’ll hear a decent riff, it appears that part of the Muse musical anatomy has since been castrated. Enter 2017’s new single, ‘Dig Down’, with the band now sounding very Depeche Mode.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4ozdiGys5g&w=640&h=360]
1. RADIOHEAD – From Grunge Rock to Art Rock Experimentation
Another British rock band turned into artsy fartsy experimental rock expressionism. Whilst a lot of fans will disagree with Radiohead plucking number one on this article, there can be no denying the bizarre transformation the band has taken on since their grunge rock debut from 1993, Pablo Honey. Hinting at greatness with the epic single, 'Creep', the band featured scathing rock riffs with the poetic crooning from front man, Thom Yorke. The band's star was on the rise further soon after with the incredible albums, The Bends (1995) and OK Computer (1997) launching Radiohead into one of the greats. Whilst their sound had developed by OK Computer into a more scripted story telling piece of rock art, the subtle guitar riffs and use of acoustic ambience was still holding the band in a rock genre, albeit a tentative one.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFkzRNyygfk&w=640&h=360]
The writing was on the wall however for Radiohead's continued commitment for change when the 2000 album, Kid A dropped that featured electronica, drum machines, even jazz. Worse was to come with experimentation evident on every Radiohead album since culminating in the full-blown art-rock album of 2016, A Moon Shaped Pool. I mean, from the drum machines and synthesised beats to the ambient wank-fest to the monotony to even going as far as to alphabetize the tracks, Radiohead has managed to provide the complete soundtrack for every hippie art wannabe across the universe. #pass #Ilikeyouroldstuffbetterthanyournewstuff
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTAU7lLDZYU&w=640&h=360]
Written by @plugga73
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iun4shGD740&w=853&h=480]
