The deluxe version of A Bitter Descent by Providence, Rhode Island-based band, Another One Down!, offers a nice glimpse into the maturity shown in the band’s dedication to their craft. “A Bitter Descent means a lot to us because it marks growth and progression for our band. For a long time we felt like we were seen as sort of a throwaway easycore act and we really wanted to prove that we have so much more to offer with this record,” the band shared. “One of our main goals going into the writing process was to tackle more mature subject matter, primarily overcoming mental health issues which is something each member of the band has struggled with in the past and we feel is important to discuss. Another goal was to explore a wide variety of sounds and vibes while still creating a cohesive record. We’ve always been inspired by bands who are not afraid to give individuality to each song rather than write the same song 12 times, especially when they’re able to do that and still create a well-flowing record. We truly believe that we achieved these goals with A Bitter Descent and we are so proud of how the record came out.” The sound of the band fits somewhere between The Starting Line, Midtown, and Allister, with the punchy production of Hit The Lights. By honing in on their songwriting, while still remaining committed to putting their best foot forward, Another One Down! have made a great, hard-hitting pop-punk record just in time for the beginning of Summer.
The album opens cautiously with an organ sound on “Please Don’t Walk Away” before more instruments join the mix over Marcus Simonini’s inviting vocals. The band picks up speed as the song eventually reaches its crescendo to match the lyrical material. “Empty (Without Me)” follows the great, atmospheric opener with a more punishing pop-punk sound accentuated by drummer Ryan Beck’s crisp percussion. The heavy bass guitar groove by Dylan Walsh on “Sulk” gives some variety in the early going of the album, and lends itself well to the band’s attention to detail in the track sequencing.
”Stuck In the Wake” is brilliantly crafted in its delivery as it gradually picks up steam on the chorus and leaves the listener with a great reminder of why they fell in love with pop-punk in the first place. Other songs in the middle of the record like “Headspace” find the band experimenting with different tempos and beats to really aim for variety on this LP. The piano-laced “Erase Your Existence” works well in the track-listing to give the audience a bit of a breather from the hard-hitting attack from the early songs, while “Something Left To Save” just sounds like The Warped Tour during its peak of popularity.
”Chump Charity” is a rare ballad thrown into the sequencing, while “Exeter” brings the band back to a comfortable speed. The blend between “High” and the title track showcase a band willing to take a few calculated risks along the way to keep the listener focused on the variety brought forth. “Betray A Friend” is a new song tacked on to the end of the Deluxe Edition, and it sounds like a sure-fire hit for the genre, and the band pulls it off with near-ease. Another One Down! add on two other acoustic songs to the end of the album that highlights their ability to paint with wide, vibrant strokes in their pop-punk prowess to ensure they remain catchy, but memorable. There’s plenty to love and enjoy on A Bitter Descent and it makes it all worth the ride for this 16-song journey.