Collapse The Sky – White Flags Album Review

12th November 2024 0 By Quinccy

Today I bring a different sort of review, my usual style is pretty straight laces and I like to keep a more – let’s say “professional” vibe however I thought today after a long conversation with fellow writer Gavin what would happen if I just reviewed music more from the unfiltered point of view of my brain. Would it be good? Would it be a train wreck? Who knows… but here we go and for this I present to you Collapse the Sky‘s 2022 album “White Flags”. The album was self-released on February 4th produced by Flynn Green and mastered Myroslav Borys at Jigsaw Audio. I often comment on the quality of production and can’t really fault the production on this. A straight-up premature rating of 10/10 for production quality can confirm it doesn’t sound like it’s been recorded on a Nintendo DS.

Collapse The Sky are a five-piece metal band from Norfolk that was initially formed in 2016. Collapse The Sky are not a new band to the scene and already boasts a pretty impressive “musical CV” (Is that a thing? If not so, it is now..) having previously achieved radio play time on BBC 1, performed at Bloodstock and guitar spotlight features with ESP guitars as just some notable feats of strengths. The current band roster for Collapse The Sky is Lee Margaillan (Vocals), Flynn Green (Guitar), David Lawrence (Guitar), Karl Morse (Bass), and Luke Fowler (Drums).

“White Flags” is an 11-track album that has a play time listed as 45:15 – Did I count the entire length of the album you ask? No. I didn’t but someone somewhere has!

The album opens up with the longest track “Foundations” featured on this release, I have to praise and say this was a bold move having your longest track as your opener is a risky gamble but it paid off the track is great and honestly kept my neurospicy brain invested. There was a time when without looking at my player I wouldn’t have thought it was the same song due to the end of the track and the start of the track feeling a little bit different in tone and sound but I’m not noting this as a negative. In terms of sound, I found it interesting, and a big thumbs-up

The following track “Breathe” gave me that slight nostalgic feel of Throwdown if they were to include more complex guitar work (No shade to Throwdown here but it is what it is). I can confirm after asking if Throwdown was any influence musically, I can confirm “no” they were not. It is swiftly followed up with melodic elements and the intricate guitar work continues throughout the entire track and continues to do so throughout the entirety of the album. Well played guys, well played.

Other notable tracks are “Worship”, self-titled “White Flags” and “Blessing”. I would like to note on this point on Blessing at 00:05 if this section had just been a bit longer with that I’d be one step away from punching my mates nan in the face (Sorry Patty, you’d be in the line for a good ol’ one two).

Have to say the album does the cliche metalcore lyrical direction of personal struggles, social issues, and raw emotional damage that people face in their lifetime but does it in a solid way. This is by no means necessarily a negative.

Overall, I rate the album 10/10. It hits the right ‘chords’ (get it, music, guitar… No? I’ll see myself out) with me and I would definitely listen to the album again and have added a couple of tracks to my own playlist. The album is made up of aggressive and intricate guitar riffs, intense breakdowns and complex blast beats that drive the music up and beyond. I’d highly suggest this album to anyone who is a fan of similar artists.
Score 10/10

TRACKLIST:

1. Foundations (05:26)
2. Breathe (03:07)
3. Worship (03:09)
4. White Flags (03:26)
5. Survive (04:29)
6. Dream Catcher (04:26)
7. Get What You Give (04:04)
8. After Effect (05:26)
9. Blessing (03:43)
10. Who I Am (03:37)
11. Let It In (04:22)