As December Falls – Happier
If you don’t know them already, As December Falls are a band with big ambition. They have suffered some hardship in the past with their music demos being stolen in 2018, then when stardom is on the horizon, Covid comes along and squarely kicks every band in the world in the balls, ADF included.
ADF are a not a band to let such trivial matters get to them. They achieved self sufficiency early on when being told they were ‘too this’ or ‘too that’. Their ‘fall down and dust themselves off ‘attitude resulted in them selling out 90% on their most recent tour of the UK, and their upcoming tour in support of Happier is also close to total sell out. On FB they are offering their EP for free and its signed for good measure. This is where they came to my attention, and I’m bloody glad they did.
Taking matters in their own hands they secured a loan to fund ‘Happier’, all of which has been paid off due to an overwhelming amount of pre-orders from their dedicated fanbase. If they decided to offer shares in the band I think I would invest even before hearing the music based on their amazing story to date.
First of all ADFs influences stretch far and wide, from more ‘classic rock’ as Hendrix and Slash, to the more pop-punk stylings on Blink 182, Sum 41 and Fall Out Boy. I would even throw in a bit of Coheed and Cambria for good measure.
If you’re a fan already, ADF have already released 4 singles from the 11 track album, and based on the quality of these alone, I can see why they paid off their loan in double quick time. ‘Afterglow’ immediately draws comparisons to Paramore and Fall Out Boy. If Stump and Williams got it on then ‘Afterglow’ and Bethany Hunter would be the result. ‘Nothing On You’ is another example if simple riffs combined with a powerful chorus (with added ‘whoa-ohs that would keep Claudia Sanchez in approval) that immediately hits home and is as infectious as the Delta variant. This reference could look shite in another 10 years! ‘Tears’ is an uplifting song that would make the more hardened critic want to join along with. ‘I Don’t Feel Like Feeling Great’ is a belting song. Its easy to underestimate bands that go for a pop rock punch, but there’s some cracking guitar work that’s up there with any classic rock guitarist, and pulsating drumming thats playing out, making ADF rise above the crop.
Out of the rest of the album the other stand outs are the very anthemic ‘Happily Never After’, and title track ‘Happier’. With ‘Happier’, it’s the first time they take their foot off the gas, and its a very pleasant change. The mood is very different and shows a different side to their talent. ‘Fake Company’ also takes the listener on a different journey. ‘All Of This Is Over’ is another sterling, uplifting track.
There’s always a tendency for music of this nature to be a bit formulaic, but ADF have enough going on here that makes then different from the chasing pack. With the advent of songs like ‘Happier’ and ‘Fake Company’, ADF do enough to show me that they are more than a ‘too this’ or ‘too that’ of a band. ADF produce power pop that deserves to be heard by the masses. In doing ‘Happier’ without the help of a label is remarkable. I hope someone in considerable power looks at the ticket sales, ambition and the quality of this album and snaps them up immediately.
I can’t judge the band based on their EP or debut, but as a standalone sophomore album, where bands can struggle to recreate their first born album, its bloody good.
As a young at heart 54 year old I can totally see why ADF are selfing out venues and have a very dedicated fan base. They are only going one way from here, and that’s up! I would love to see the guys on their tour but I think I’d be the oldest bloke in the room by about 30 years.
8/10
As December Falls are –
Bethany Hunter – Vocals
Ande – Guitar
Timmy – Guitar
Luke – Drums
Tracklisting –
Afterglow
Over It
You Say When
I Don’t Feel Like Feeling Great
Nothing On You
Happily Never After
Happier
Tears
Fake Company
All Of This Is Over
One Last Song