{"id":98705,"date":"2025-04-17T22:39:14","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T21:39:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/?p=98705"},"modified":"2025-04-17T22:40:14","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T21:40:14","slug":"review-as-it-is-never-happy-ever-after-x","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/review-as-it-is-never-happy-ever-after-x\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: As It Is – Never Happy, Ever After X"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AsReturning after a hiatus that came and went in the blink of an eye, it seems weird to consider\u00a0that As It Is<\/strong> is a band<\/span> revisiting old material. In their initial decade of activity, the Brighton-based group carved out an admirable career that honed in on earnest pop-punk. They were a band that found its place in the higher echelons of UK pop-punk, yet rarely showed signs of going beyond a mid-sized venue act. Nevertheless, it’s clear the quartet, now consisting of vocalist Patty Walters, guitarist Ben Biss, bassist Ali Testo and drummer Patrick Foley, were respected by their peers. It’s that respect, along with some influential impact, that has led to this re-worked version of the band’s debut album.<\/p>\n

As its title\u00a0<\/em>suggests, ‘Never Happy, Ever After X,’ <\/em>sees the Transatlantic quartet re-record their first full-length<\/a> ten years on, with a cast of cameos. These consist of influences, past touring pals, and some newer names who consider As It Is<\/strong> as an influence.<\/p>\n

In terms of song structure and style, very little, if anything, has been tweaked. The opening pairing of\u00a0‘Speak Soft’<\/em> and\u00a0‘Cheap Shots & Setbacks’<\/em> still bursts with energetic pop-punk. Sleeping With Sirens<\/strong>‘ Kellin Quinn’s tender voice elevates the former’s middle eight, albeit briefly. The latter is a 2010s UK rock\/pop-punk gathering with\u00a0Mikey Chapman of Mallory Knox<\/strong> and Alex Adam and Alex Costello of the now-defunct ROAM<\/strong> bringing a celebratory tone throughout.\u00a0 Later on,\u00a0Trash Boat<\/strong>‘s Tobi Duncan provides some bite to\u00a0‘Concrete’<\/em>s relentless bounce.<\/p>\n

Some of the most notable guest spots come from Mikala Delgado of Yours Truly<\/strong>, and Lucas Woodland of Holding Absence<\/strong>. Delgado brings a sultry and warm tone to\u00a0‘Sorry’<\/em>s sugar-rush pacing. While Woodland fits in\u00a0‘Dial Tones’<\/em> impassioned emotional tone like a glove, bouncing off Walters effortlessly.\u00a0Meanwhile, Sum 41<\/strong>‘s Dave ‘Brownsound’ Baksh adds a scorching guitar solo to\u00a0‘My Oceans Were Lakes’<\/em>.<\/p>\n