Story of the Year
In the Wake of Determination

THE REVIEW

We left Story of The Year in 2004, during their consecration thanks to the great success of “Page Avenue”, a debut album that to this day, anno domini 2023, can boast an incredible success of both public and critical acclaim.

The tumultuous relationship with John Feldmann (producer of the band's first work) and the lingering tensions despite the album's success, due to a very forced creative process, led to an inevitable break. The production of the second studio album was therefore entrusted to Steve Evetts (Sepultura, Kid Dynamite, Symphony X), who gave free rein to the four from St. Louis, allowing them to unleash their overflowing creative streak.

Whether it was the incredible desire to prove they were still in the game after a gold record debut, or the golden opportunity for Dan Marsala to let out all the anger he had had to hold back until that moment, success already seemed a certainty.

“In The Wake of Determination” not only has a very explicit title but also a notable sound. Recorded at Steamy Nook, Ryan Phillips' personal studio, guitarist and co-founder of the band, the album is composed of twelve tracks, plus the ghost track "A Silent Murder / Slow Jam" (born as an intro, then placed at the end of the tracklist). The "homemade" dimension hasn't slowed down the tight work schedules that, as with “Page Avenue”, involved eight to ten-hour daily recording sessions, with no exception for weekends. Ryan Phillips still remembers the abrasions on his fingers that at the end of the day didn't even allow him to bend the guitar strings. This is to give an idea.

The melody, which is the band's typical trait, is not lacking, even if screamo prevails in almost fifty minutes. Marsala's timbre, on this occasion, largely resembles that of Greg Graffin from Bad Religion. Much of the lyrics were written in tandem by Marsala and bassist Adam Russell but without direct consultation or collaboration. At the end of the work, with the other band members, the most interesting passages were selected, giving life to the finished product.

The lyrics convey that healthy aggressiveness of someone who wants to shout their intentions in life's face. “We Don’t Care Anymore”, the first track (but recorded last) tells us it's good to do what we love for ourselves, without worrying about others' approval. “Take Me Back”, which evokes sounds akin to Rise Against, ironically suggests growing up by learning that ignorance is pure bliss.

Among the most powerful tracks, “March of the Dead”, “Meathead”, “Pay Your Enemy”, “Five Against the World” and “Our Time Is Now”, with the purest hardcore punk character, increase the dose on the trail of distrust, recommending never blindly trusting anyone, all with a fairly explicit reference to the difficulties of the early days.

“Stereo”, entirely written by Marsala, criticizes the greed of the music industry, more inclined to focus on profit at the expense of the joy of creating music with passion. The track contains obvious references to “Page Avenue” and its production process. “Sleep” is the emotional "clear" ballad, given that the other, “A Silent Murder”, remains in the most hidden part of the album.

“Wake Up the Voiceless” and “Is This My Fate?” He Asked Them” have a common denominator, namely the condemnation of injustice with a desire for revenge. If in the first, with its explicit title, the singing urges revolution, the second, with powerful riffs and a reckless rhythm, condemns gender discrimination. The theme of defending LGBT rights was already hot in 2005 and remains perfectly in line with the times. In “Taste The Poison” they talk about addiction to alcohol and drugs and how the loss of inhibitions and relationship with reality brutally puts us in direct contact with the truth we do not want to see.

What makes any of the band's works exciting, and this one in particular, is the desire to shake through healthy anger and the most aggressive punk rock, bringing us back to calm through melody and food for thought.

“In The Wake of Determination” is the pursuit of fulfillment by those who wanted each track, with the awareness of being only at the beginning of a journey of both human and musical evolution. They want to make noise but without too much carelessness, showing that with punk rock you can touch the soul and heart. With lots of determination.