“Struck the match and I am on my knees.”

If you’re a fan of melodic metalcore with catchy choruses, then you’ve undoubtedly come across As Everything Unfolds already, and if you somehow haven’t, then what rock have you been living under? Going from strength to strength, As Everything Unfolds have shown consistent growth since their debut EP, with each release being a clear step up from its predecessor. Despite this, the band has remained relatively underground, so to speak, playing small runs, with the occasional stint in Europe as well. With the release of their third studio album, DID YOU ASK TO BE SET FREE?, the band has its sights set on breaking through that boundary and finally becoming a household name in UK melodic metalcore.

It’s extremely important to introduce some important context for this release – tragedy that struck As Everything Unfolds in 2024, with the passing of their drummer, Jamie Gowers, mid-tour. It’s crucial to understand this grief and the weight of this loss going into DID YOU ASK TO BE SET FREE?, as there are very clear parallels in the songwriting. Exploring loss and the emotional toll it takes, As Everything Unfolds takes us through the motions. This album explores grief, sadness, anger, denial, and acceptance, and at times it is truly heartbreaking. With this in mind, there’s so much more to DID YOU ASK TO BE SET FREE? than is perhaps clear on the surface, and you must go in with this understanding if you wish to truly comprehend the message the band is conveying.

The aptly titled “DENIAL” kicks things off, and from the get-go, we’re engulfed in the emotional turmoil surrounding the band. Lyrically much darker than all the band’s previous material, it sets the tone for what’s to come. Telling the tale of two figures experiencing turmoil, with one doing all that they can to support the other, yet still feeling it is not enough, it’s truly harrowing. This, combined with a newly expanded vocal range where Charlie Rolfe pulls off some jaw-dropping lows before switching back to her signature sickly-sweet cleans, puts things into perspective perfectly. You know exactly what you’re in for, and you’re pulled in for the ride.

There are tracks like “GASOLINE”, “POINT OF VIEW”, and “BREAK IT AWAY”, which are more akin to that As Everything Unfolds sound that we’ve come to know and love. Undeniably catchy choruses, impeccable pacing, dancey synth segments, and riffs galore, there’s nothing not to love about these tracks. They’re instantly recognisable as As Everything Unfolds in the very best way. Then there’s “IDOLS”, which shows off the other side of the band perfectly. A much heavier number, it retains that signature catchiness but has Rolfe showcasing her newly expanded range once more in such a fantastic way. It’s fast, heavy, and catchy whilst being distinctly different – something which is really refreshing and keeps the album’s flow moving nicely.

“CUT THE LIES”, on the other hand, is a much more experimental track and will be one of the more divisive moments on the album. This is due to its stylistic use of pitch-correction, coupled with a riff which feels remarkably similar to that of DeadMou5’s “Professional Griefers“. It’s a stranger track amongst not only this release but the wider As Everything Unfolds discography, and whilst there’s nothing inherently wrong with it, the change in style will absolutely alienate some; others will find it to be a grower. “REVERIE” on the other hand, switches things up and is more synth-heavy, whilst feeling much more familiar. Led predominantly by Rolfe‘s vocals, this track explores the nuances of the band’s sound in a much more familiar way, playfully introducing new facets, and feeling like something that would feel at home on Bring Me The Horizon’s Amo.

Despite the quality of all other tracks on the album, “SET IN FLOW” stands out as a bold lead single for so many reasons. It has no real chorus, is more 80s-synth laden than the rest of the album, and it’s much less catchy than most of the cuts on here. Being completely candid, when first hearing this single, I had concerns for the direction that the band was going in. It’s a particularly strange track both in and out of context, and one that I’ll personally be skipping in the majority of instances. “WHAT YOU WANTED”, which features Bury Tomorrow’s Dani Winter-Bates, also stands out for all the wrong reasons when heard in context. Given that the album is clearly very personal to the band, it feels remarkably strange having a feature at all, and furthermore, Winter-Bates’ feature is nearly the entire track. The feature itself isn’t bad by any means, and as a standalone track, it holds up very well, but in the context of the album, it just feels off.

Then there’s the strange choice to essentially have two closers to round out the album. “EDGE OF FOREVER” and “SETTING SUN” both possess that signature closer sound that the band has been able to consistently capture throughout their careers, but then, for whatever reason, have been positioned back-to-back. “EDGE OF FOREVER” is a slow, mostly acoustic number, with Rolfe delivering an emotional narrative which gradually builds as the track progresses. This alone would have closed out DID YOU ASK TO BE SET FREE? perfectly, but then “SETTING SUN” starts and gives us a wholly different take on the album’s closer, instead moving in a catchier direction, building to an epic crescendo, before leading out with a stunning synth segment. Each track in its own right would close out the album perfectly, but then, for whatever reason, both have been left in. It stifles an already peculiar album flow, and whilst both tracks are great and distinctly different, it feels remarkably strange.

Even with all of these peculiar decisions, I couldn’t help but find myself revisiting DID YOU ASK TO BE SET FREE? over and over. Despite having identified things which I personally found strange, the inherent catchiness and honed talents of the band were enough to win me over, and I found myself revisiting the album time and time again. DID YOU ASK TO BE SET FREE? isn’t going to blow anybody away, but then again, it doesn’t need to. This is a band that’s already been making a name for itself and is taking that next step up. They’ve got an established fanbase already; they don’t need to win people over, they just need to keep doing what they do best, and that’s exactly what DID YOU ASK TO BE SET FREE? does, it showcases all we’ve come to know and love As Everything Unfolds for, but at its very best. So if you’re on the fence, having heard the singles, or perhaps have never heard of this band but are looking to find some catchy, grandiose choruses, then this is the album for you. It’s a labour of love and an emotional outlet all rolled up into one, and it truly does stand out as perhaps being the band’s best work to date.

8/10

DID YOU ASK TO BE SET FREE? releases on the 10th April via Century Media, and is available for preorder here.