I Am the Avalanche: The Horror Show

Going into The Horror Show, you need to know one thing, this is an incredibly heavy album born out of loss. Vinnie Caruana (frontman) recently lost a friend, that trauma bleeds into the DNA of this record. It makes for an album that is deeply therapeutic, but also messy and unpredictable.

The opening chords to "God’s Travel Plans" feel eerily familiar. If you’re already an I Am The Avalanche fan, or if you grew up loving The Movielife, this track plucks right at your nostalgic heartstrings.

"The Horror Show" follows up with exactly the kind of sound that made IATA famous. It would feel right at home on prior releases like Wolverines or Avalanche United. Raw, fast-paced, and packed with urgency, it's easily one of the strongest, most replayable tracks on the record.

"Laughing and Bleeding" changes things, slows things down, officially introducing the grief that hangs over the rest of the tracklist. It’s a heavy, ballad where the band dips their toes into a new sonic direction while trying to reconcile with tragedy. The lyrics are a heartbreaking reflection on better times and loyal companions who are now gone. I can easily see this becoming a massive, pleaser at their live shows.

"I’m Not Dead" is where one of the band's historic weaknesses begins to show. Grief is often numbing, and you can hear that in the music. I’ve always felt that while IATA's best songs are their high energy anthems, their deeper cuts tend to swim together into a sea of similar, forgettable tracks. This song is the perfect example of that mid-tempo haze. Having little to make it stand out.

"5:55" takes the speed down another notch and suffers from the same fate. It lacks the catchy hook or driving riff needed to make it stand out. A sweeping violin or a moody piano solo could have added the texture this track desperately needed. Adding a few layers could have elevated this and solidified itself as a closer.

"I Miss California" hits much harder. Driven by throwbacks to older songs and a surprisingly touching focus on missing the West Coast (and, oddly but appreciated, dogs) it features a much stronger hook. But by this point in the tracklist, the song ratio feels completely out of whack for a band usually associated with pure rock energy.

"True Legends Never Die" tries to revive that energy as a massive, adrenaline-fueled nod to New York Hardcore legends like H2O, Madball, and Agnostic Front. But, true to the NYHC style, the song is over quickly, leaving you wanting for more.

"Alive on 14th" and "Rogue Knife," two introspective, medium-tempo tracks that blend together so much I barely noticed the songs had switched, lack the necessary punch to elevate themselves. The latter appealing more than the former to me, but for no discernable reason on first listen.

"Trebuchet" feels entirely out of place as the closer. IATA's last record (Dive) came out right in the middle of the pandemic, so The Horror Show felt like a prime opportunity to declare a fresh start. Finally being able to tour again should have culminated in a massive, epic album-ender. Instead, "Trebuchet" feels like a track that could have been plunked anywhere on the tracklist.

Ultimately, The Horror Show is a valiant effort and a welcome return, but I Am The Avalanche are melancholy incarnate here. The constant shifting of tempos and the blending of mid-tempo tracks make it clear that this record was built as a therapeutic release for the band, not necessarily to appease listeners. Two-minute punk rippers simply can't convey the trauma of losing a friend. I hate giving this a lower score knowing the heavy emotional weight behind it, but the album unfortunately just misses the mark for me.