We’re Not Afraid fails to push boundaries, remains unspectacular in over-saturated genre

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2.5 out of 5 stars

Melodic hardcore is a genre that is hard to break into, and We’re Not Afraid falls victim to an over-saturated space with their latest record “Adventures in Poverty.”

While for all intents and purposes “Adventures In Poverty” is a fine album that makes few mistakes, it just cannot compare when thrown into the current scene.

We’re Not Afraid plays a very safe, pop-punk influenced style of melodic hardcore that sounds like Good Charlotte at higher speed and with gang vocals. Songs like “Dead Fish” really showcase this ‘90s North American pop-punk feel.

The songwriting really shines with good instrumentals, especially in songs “One Man Economy” and “Back To Life” where it’s apparent the band has talent. The tone of the lead guitar sounds very similar to Swedish act Misconduct, which fits the genre well.

The most glaring problem is the vocals. It is not that they feel out of place, but that you can hear them fitting much better in a standard pop-punk outfit. They lack a lot of snarl and bite that current melodic hardcore needs and they really hold the band back.

It’s sad because these mistakes are so minute, but given how competitive melodic hardcore is across the whole world you can’t afford to slip up once. If this album had a lot more of the punch that songs like “20 Degrees Below” have it would push the boundaries enough to stand out.

The album is in dire need of faster delivery, heavier drumming, more intense vocals and, above all, more moments where the music moves you to jump wildly and throw your fists into the air (or into the guy next to you). We’re Not Afraid has the “melodic” part down but really needs to work on the “hardcore” aspect.

There is nothing technically wrong with Adventures In Poverty, but there are far superior releases to give listening time.