Aaron Bruno is the mastermind and front man behind AWOLNATION’s (AN) much anticipated debut album “Megalithic Symphony.” Their innovative, electronic feel pulls together elements of nearly every genre. AN is signed to Red Bull Records, and their creative control comes through as meticulous, clean and new throughout the entire album. Their album includes each of their three previous singles, “Sail,” “Not Your Fault,” and “Kill Your Heroes,” in addition to 11 other tracks.
AN broke through the music scene with their first single “Sail,” which became available for digital download in June of 2011. Professional base jumper Jeb Corliss features the song in his audacious YouTube video where he plummets through the Swiss Alps in a wing suit. The video helped AN gain popularity with more than 19 million views. The song went platinum in the U.S., double-platinum in Canada and reached No. 5 on Billboard’s U.S. Alternative Songs chart. This ground shaking song introduces a powerful bass and rugged synth, providing the defining elements of AN’s sound. Lead vocalist Bruno repeats the title “Sail” in a rough voice, complementing its electronic backdrop. The song is instantly ingrained in the minds of listeners, providing an anthem for the rest of the day and making everything they encounter appear a bit more epic.
Their second single “Not Your Fault” was released in October of 2011. AN’s electronic feel really comes through on this song. It features a much more pixilated sound that holds onto soft a keyboard early and brings in the heavy synth later.
The incredible build leads into a trashing chorus where you can’t help but throw your entire body into the rhythm. The song landed the band with its second hit within Billboard’s U.S. Alternative chart, making its way up to No. 3.
In August of 2012, AN released their third single “Kill Your Heroes.” The song climbed to No. 7 on Billboard’s U.S.
Alternative chart and sticks to the band’s original electronic sound. Fuzzy, hard-sung vocals are placed over a distorted synth and smooth guitar melodies that transition into another catchy chorus. The song’s sinister lyrics leave its meaning up to debate, but in any case, another jam is produced.
Some other great songs on the album include “Jump On My Shoulders,” “Guilty Filthy Soul,” “Wake Up” and one of the best tracks “All I Need,” which provides the album with another change of pace. The song incorporates the piano, along with a choir and a softer vocal sound to provide a gospel-infused rock feel that helps tie the entire album together.
“Megalithic Symphony” is an album deserving of its title and positive critical acclaim, as it successfully spans across several genres, bringing them all together with unrivaled uniqueness.
AWOLNATION just stormed their way into the alternative/electronic realm with absolutely no fear and no looking back.
“Megalithic Symphony” is now available in stores and for download on iTunes.
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