Review AS DECEMBER FALLS “Everything Is on Fire But I Am Fine”

“Everything Is on Fire But I Am Fine” is the fourth album from As December Falls. The Nottingham-based band formed in 2014, and to be honest, I hadn’t heard much more than their name a couple of times before.

These days, the four-piece have revealed their fourth album, called “Everything is on Fire But I Am Fine”, which features 14 new songs. A fusion of alternative rock and pop-punk is showcased in the new record, which follows the 2023 album “Join the Club”.

“Burn It All Down” opens the album. It’s a hard-hitting start to the album, with Bethany Hunter’s clean vocals adding to its pop appeal. While the guitars follow a modern yet harder approach, it is the melodic vocals that make the album so catchy. This is evident in the single release “Ready Set Go”, an energetic song with an infectious hook.

As December Falls don’t have any long songs on their album. In an world with limited attention spans, the band has recorded music that mostly stays under the two-minute mark and sugar-sweet synth moments, like in ‘For the Plot’, remind me of bands that were popular in the ’90s.

The piano ballad “Rewrite” evokes a sense of darkness, while “Bathroom Floor” addresses heartbreak and red flags. The album is characterised by a blend of atmospheric moments and alternative rock blasts, as exemplified by “I’m No Good Alone”. In contrast, “Grim Reaper” appears to be a light-hearted song, but in fact reveals a very vulnerable moment.

December Falls’ fourth album addresses some serious topics in its lyrics. The band doesn’t stick to happy life stories on their latest effort. At the same time, the music adds a twist to these lyrics, providing a glimmer of hope through its melodies and catchiness. The dark clouds over your soul become a little brighter thanks to the music, which is what gives “Everything is on Fire But I Am Fine” that little something extra.