Scary Kids Scaring Kids: The City Sleeps In Flames 15 Year Anniversary Look Back
The City Sleeps In Flames, Scary Kids Scaring Kids debut studio album turns 15 this year and we're going to take a look back at it in today's article. First, let's get a look at that album art, which is an awesome reference to the ending of the film FIGHT CLUB. The tone of that is felt throughout the album. The lyrical content on this album finds the band at odds with the structures of society, the problems we face, and how we're all set up to be on the shorter end of the stick that our cultures decide for us.
Singer Tyson Stevens (RIP) fills his voice with somber sadness to vile tinged angst when he breaks into blood-curdling fry screams. The opening track, where our album finds its title, comes in at a frantic pace. The track is like a call to arms demanding we all pay attention to the passion on display as a marching drum-like beat pounds to the blood boiling in our veins.
Next, "The Only Medicine" rolls in with a drum roll and is possibly one of the sickest lead riffs found on the album that buries itself deep into the recesses of your mind, with that guitar solo later on being incredibly sublime. The band deserves credit for their keyboardist synth work, which always finds its way into the songs without sounding abrasively out of place as it does with some bands that have tried to replicate their sound.
The following track "The World As We Know It" gives a nice 28 Days Later reference to the Rage virus, which was a topical horror film for its time as it revolutionized zombie movies. Likewise, The City Sleeps In Flames revolutionized an entire fan base's adoration for this release.
"What's Said Is Done" is a downtempo number that fills the air with a sadder tone, expressing the weight our words carry and finds itself weaving among a dream-like ballad, with charged guitars, and a bell-like tone key. The drum work on all of these tracks speaks volumes as the variations and fills are top-notch.
"Just A Taste" keeps the softer side of the album going and provides a sweeter side of the band, Tyson riding a higher trembling timbre in his delivery. The drum work on this track is so intricate as the bass and guitar weave about effortlessly, creating this wall of sound that gives the song a romantic appeal.
What is perhaps the band's most popular track, "My Darkest Hour" sears into the frame next, and the synth lead haunts the halls of our hearts for a reason. The uptempo number is an emo anthem, with dejected lovelorn lyrics of a failed marriage, the whole band comes together to earn the listeners attention.
If you haven't seen the video for this song, you're doing yourself a disservice as it's perhaps one of the most innovative low budget films that harken back to the opening scene of the original Wayne's World, with the band singing along as they drive about the city streets lip-syncing the track. It was a full-length TikTok sing-along way before TikTok was a twinkle in anyone's eye.
"Drowning (You In Fear)" comes in with perhaps the best demonstration of the harsh vocals the band has ever produced, with blood-curdling screams of a man demanding to not let the world break you down. The interlude bridge on this track, with its arpeggio digital sea keys engorged in a symphonic like riff, the band captures the mind's eye with this deep cut that happens to be my personal favorite.
"The Bright Side Of Suffering" comes in with another deep cut that resonates hard on the lyric front, preaching the issues we go through with breakups that come together in the breakdown as the vocals shake as they soar over a cavalcade of epicness. "Empty Glasses" comes in sounding like a Lost Boys Night Out track as it gives us a nice chorus that stands out on this album, great work from the instrumentation.
"Faith In The Knife" comes in sharp as hell, stabbing at your heartstrings as the guitars sound like they came out of the recesses of your favorite metal guitarists' mind, the tracks ominous Phantom Of The Opera-Esque organs pull the track together well. It all comes together leading us into the final track on the album "A Breath Of Sunshine,'' invoking similar dreams like states "Drowning" had done previously.
The song is a slow trudge upon its early starts, feeling like we're walking through the wreckage of the City on the album's art. The bridge brings us into a sad introspective moment as they lead us along into a triumphant closer, the nearly six-minute track keeps its hooks dug into you, as the chorus slides over us, keeping us wanting the album going for another 11 tracks. The instruments play off of a sense that something great has happened here and I wish it could keep going.
Tyson Stevens, Pete Costa, Chad Crawford, DJ Wilson, Steve Kirby, and Pouyan Afkary crafted a finely tuned album with a wealth of maturity not found in most bands debut EPs. They recently managed to do a string of celebration shows to honor the 15th Anniversary before Covid-19 destroyed live shows, with former Saosin/now Dead American frontman Cove Reber filling the role of vocalist. The albums are still remembered fondly for its sound, the band proving to be more than just a MySpace memory.