Stingray Affliction - ISSUES (Song Review)
"Stingray Affliction" is the first single off of the first upcoming, self titled album from six piece Atlanta, Georgia metalcore band Issues. Forming in the summer of 2012, debuting their first EP, Black Diamonds in November shortly after being signed to Rise Records. The self-titled debut is set for release February 18, 2014. The song starts off heavy with vocalist Michael Bohn (former Woe, Is Me and A Path Less Traveled vocalist) and record scratching from Ty “Scout” Acord (former keyboarder for A Memoria Brooded). The turntables, in theory, seem like they wouldn’t flow well with a metalcore song, but Issues makes it work. Along with a synthesized orchestra close to the end of the song to finish it off perfectly, on paper it doesn’t seem like something that would sound good mashed up together, but it does, and does so amazingly. Lyrically, ‘Stingray Affliction’ is vague, however there are theories being tossed around that it is about bullying. I haven’t been able to find anything to confirm or deny this; however, looking at the lyrics I can see why people would think that. “He’s so hardcore when he’s running his mouth. There’s always gonna be that fucking guy”, “I’m not afraid to scream and shout and freak out and throw my hands up and let it out. Punk bitch walking tall like you got something to prove. Nah man, cause deep down you know it sucks to be you”. Those are just a few lines that stand out, though the chorus seems to go the best with the theory the song is about bullying; “No I don’t wanna be tough. I wanna make sure they can see me cry sure enough. Don’t wanna bottle this up, the way you make me feel when you’re around. Tough guy dies a little inside.” The speaker obviously doesn’t want to hold in their emotions of whatever they’re going through, be it bullying or something else that may being going on in their life; very opposite of what many people tend to do, men especially. The combination of Bohn’s unclean vocals along with clean vocals done by Tyler Carter (also a former vocalist for Woe, Is Me and Path Less Traveled) combine very nicely to give this song contrast as well as balance. The lyric video was released on Rise Records’ YouTube channel and is available for purchase through iTunes. The album is also available for pre-order.
Rating: 4/5- As a whole I adore the song. Instrumentally it’s fantastic, I really enjoy when bands can integrate different sounds and instruments into their songs like how Issues did here. Personally, I have never listened to Issues until this song; I’m not sure why, since now I am totally hooked. If this is any indication of the rest of the album, we won’t be disappointed. Download #StingrayAffliction on iTunes now. You can also preorder the full album. http://smarturl.it/issues-issues
