I am truly delighted to introduce the amazing band from the USA called “A Floor Below” to the blog. They have never been content with being a part of one specific genre. Their music has always been characterized by a variety of sound changes and moods. They released their new album entitled “The Asylum,” consisting of 13 tracks, on March 25th. This album is not only an assembly of different songs but also the architectural structure of people’s minds. It tells about all the barriers we create for ourselves in order to protect ourselves from suffering and the attempts to destroy them. In order to fully appreciate the significance of this album, one must take a more detailed look at the building blocks of this musical stronghold. I will now take you on a tour through the track listing of “The Asylum”, dear readers.
The album starts with the song “The Asylum,” and does not fall into the cliché of a manic state of chaos. Rather, the composition starts with an ominous piano tune performed with slight dissonance, which is joined by the repetitive sound of a heart monitor beeping in the distance and eerie laughter, the kind you might hear when a villain laughs in a horror film and then the instruments go into full swing. The topic of “asylum” here is not associated with any building; it is a symbol of an emotional shield that has transformed from protection into captivity and so, the character in the song lets everyone know that he will not be restrained, no matter what. The vocal parts are somehow raw, soft and intimate sounding until they become loud and joined with aggressive musical elements, such as heavily-tuned guitars.
Beginning to discuss “Bleed the Demons”, we move towards a much more aggressive form of exorcism. This track begins with an electric guitar sound characterized by a high frequency and is abruptly squashed by a double kick drum opening. In terms of lyrics, this track revolves around the inevitability of the violent struggle of bringing your inner demons out into the open and show them that they cannot swallow you, showing them who is the boss. But, listeners should know that it is more difficult than it sounds. In terms of vocals, this is quite a rapid and percussive performance, just like the process itself. Guitarists here employ sounds that resemble stabs.
“Sanitized” picks up from where the previous tracks left off, starting with wild, unhinged and fun intro. The song is about how society forces us to clean our characters, to remove the real self and replace it with a new personality, a bleached-out version of ourselves because who decides that we’re normal. This song is a reminder that, there is not one clear cut definition of what is normal or not, despite how hard society may will us to do. The melody used in this song is very mathematical and precise, with the percussion hitting all the right beats and the voice sounding eerie yet emotionless.
“You Might Love Me” offers a deceivingly warm moment with an introduction through swelling, melodic guitar, stringed instruments and synth pads that give the impression of sunrise. The song’s motif explores the concept of a persons who is running away from love because he doesn’t love himself. This song talks about a brutal truth, we should not get involved with someone who hasn’t done the work or who doesn’t love himself or herself. Because, if we do, it could turn out very bad for both parties. Vocally, the song is its most melodic and “sweetest,” and is a refresher after the previous banging songs although there is a faint tremolo effect in the vocalist’s voice, indicating that a breaking point is not far off.
The centerpiece of the album is “Metastasize,” which is an epic track that starts off with a very slow, low-pitched guitar and vibrating sound and builds up as a tribal beat develops. The lyrics talk about the infection of one’s mind due to one negative thought spreading into something more serious. The song can be looked at in two ways. The character asks to be let and allowed to life his life. Even though what is holding him captive isn’t mentioned, it is important to note that, the character could be talking about being held captive physically or mentally by his demons. Musically, there are a lot of complex changes in the time signature, showing how someone is losing control of themselves. Vocally, there are many dynamics, starting from very deep tones going to high-pitched opera singing.
In “If There’s No Tomorrow,” the intro picks back up and there is this exciting guitar track. Nihilism is at the heart of the song, posing the question whether the conflict in the institution means anything at all when time is running out. The vocals are similarly naked, without any fancy touches that would characterize other songs on the album. This absence of “armor” produces the feeling of overwhelming exhaustion, a well-needed respite for the listener.
Momentum resumes again through “Descent,” beginning with an opening guitar riff that spirals downward and is accompanied by heavy delay to create a real sensation of falling. The concept is that of giving in, surrendering when you no longer want to fight the chaos inside of you. Musically speaking, the song has been designed in such a way that it creates dissonance and confusion in the mind of the listener because, the song changes momentum in the middle of the song which was done seamlessly
The opening notes of “Stalemate” feature an exciting drum solo that carries its own weight, distorted heavily and playing alone for the first four measures. The song focuses on the mental impasse between the healthy side of oneself and one’s broken side, which has come to a complete halt. This is accompanied by a harsh vocal delivery and an instrumentation that is steadfastly exciting in nature. The song tells listeners that no solution to the problem with the lyrics and instrumentation
The sound environment is introduced through “Ocean in the Flood”, where the opening music begins with the same rock energy that other songs in the album had. In this case, the theme is that of being inundated by the emotional intensity involved, and not an event per se. There is a lot of layering of vocals that gives an underwater, dreamlike quality to the song even though it’s fast paced.
“Hollow” starts with an abrupt outburst of white noise which fades away to a single resonating kick drum. The message of this song centers on a character who can relate to how someone is feeling at that particular moment. It’s nice to remember that we don’t have to go through certain things alone. Hollow is a song characterized by minimalism with the vocals bordering on being spoken word, while the guitars play in some chilly notes in between.
In terms of tone, however, “Clinically Inclined” is where things get bitter. “Clinically Inclined” begins with a mid tempo beat. The song is about people who need clinical help. This song reminds us that contrary to what we have been told, asking for help is not embarrassing or worrisome, it is actually a sign of strength. The song lets us know that there is no shame in asking for help and we appreciate the band for this message. “Clinically Inclined” is characterized by a very unappealing yet entertaining music that uses clanking metallic percussion and biting vocals.
With the destination drawing closer, The “World Outside” opens with a guitar and drum intro that is quite unforgettable. The concept of re-entry and the knowledge that even the external world of the “sanitarium” is broken become clear themes. The singing is thoughtful and filmic, backed by rich instrumentation that seems like a camera pulling back for a wider view.
Last but not least, the album opens with an incredibly strong, uplifting guitar chord progression that shifts into an empowering, victorious beat. While the theme itself does not act as a complete solution, it instead acts as an assertive declaration to go on living regardless of all of the damage done. This track features the best vocals of the album, with the singer holding onto a high note.
Indeed, one can consider that at its core, The Asylum has become a powerful affirmation of the freedom of expression for this group’s artistry. Having united these thirteen tracks into one, unique, and chilling storyline, they have done more than produce another record; they have created a community in which the soundscape, the narrative, and the spirit can interact through an ongoing conversation. This is a call for stepping out of the comfort zone and immersing into the record completely, to discover oneself within the soundscapes of this musical piece. For a long-time fan of this artist, it has become yet another representation of the characteristic ferociousness and boundary-crossing in style that defines them. On the other hand, for a newcomer, it can serve as an introduction to the diverse, but coherent universe that refuses to shy away from the full extent of what life represents.
Finally, the overall collection can be described as an extremely intense meditation on humanity and the delicate balance between imprisonment and striving for fresh air. The album reflects not only the iron bars of reality but also those invisible barriers we build inside ourselves and which serve to suffocate us. What makes it special is the fact that the album reveals when exactly courage comes into play among all the noise of life. It is truly blood and breath music created by and for humans, which requires a great deal of personal integrity and sincerity from the listener. Listening to this collection will result in an irreversible transformation because these tracks have changed me both as a person and as an admirer of the band. And although I know that it will be hard for me to come back to the same person after experiencing such an evolution, I am forever grateful to the musicians for this unique opportunity.
Stream “The Asylum” album on Spotify
Follow A Floor Below here and their socials: Instagram, Bandcamp, YouTube
