MY OWN PRIVATE ALASKA: All The Lights On (ALTERNATIVE METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

What do My Own Private Alaska and Tool have in common? The time taken to release a new album: almost 14 years. Admittedly, the Frenchmen's comeback won't have the same worldwide impact as the Americans', but “All The Lights On” won't go unnoticed for all that. My Own Private Alaska remains one of the few (if not the only) band to have made the piano a central player in a hardcore universe, giving birth to the singular genre of “pianocore”.

Far from being a mere accompaniment, the piano becomes the beating heart of their music, catalyzing the raw, rebellious emotions of hardcore, while infusing it with an almost romantic touch. Where the piano rarely comes to the fore in rock, except perhaps with Muse or in the neo-progressive with Iamthemorning, My Own Private Alaska turns it into an instrument of rage and melancholy, creating a unique sound. This amalgam took hold with their previous album “Amen”, but the follow-up was a long time coming, between parallel projects and a reshuffled line-up.

The aptly named “All The Lights On” marks a return to their roots, while opening up new perspectives. This new album is an emotional plunge in which the roughness of hardcore - with its devastating riffs and screaming vocals - blends with the dark poetry of piano on the verge of classical. The contrast is striking, giving rise to intense tracks that are a veritable emotional rollercoaster. Tracks like the epic 'Ka Ora' and the cinematic 'Burn, And Light The Way' are the epitome of this. The latter undoubtedly stands out as one of the most accomplished tracks of the year, capturing a rare symbiosis between voice, rhythm, melody and a breathtaking build-up of power.

“All The Lights On” truly sounds like a mature and accomplished band work. The balance is subtly struck, and right from the opening with 'From Gold To Stone', we sense this new maturity, this desire for introspection and mastery. The vocals alternate remarkably between clear passages and screams, reinforcing an almost theatrical dramaturgy, and at times the band doesn't hesitate to venture into more experimental or noisy territory, flirting with progressive ('Question Mark') or darkcore.

My Own Private Alaska delivers a striking album, tackling profound themes such as disappearance, rebirth and spirituality. The subtlety of the writing, the captivating narrative and the intensity of the performance make “All The Lights On” a real favorite, and undoubtedly one of the most striking albums in their discography. - Official website

MY OWN PRIVATE ALASKA

ALL THE LIGHTS ON

PIAS

ALTERNATIVE METAL