Album review by Lucas Bell
A.R.S.O.N. marks the next evolution of Story Of The Year’s signature sound and raw, personal lyricism – elements that have earned the band a dedicated global following. An acronym for “All Rage, Still Only Numb,” the album channels their trademark energy into a powerful exploration of anxiety, emotional turmoil and inner darkness. With a dynamic blend of modern post-hardcore, polished production, and nods to their emo roots, A.R.S.O.N. delivers a compelling, storied sonic journey through the fight to make it through this life.
I’ve been a fan of Story of the Year since Page Avenue dropped in 2003. And while I liked most of the songs from In the Wake of Determination, I haven’t liked a full Story record until 2020’s Tear Me to Pieces. I was never sure if it was a disconnection from the sound, or that I had such a high bar internally for the earlier era of the band, Tear Me to Pieces brought me back to the band in a big way. I’m hoping A.R.S.O.N continues that trend.
SONG BREAKDOWNS
Gasoline (All Rage Still Only Numb) – Heavy and loud, ‘Gasoline’ is the lead single from this record for a reason. It’s a statement maker. Continuing the trend from ‘Tear Me to Pieces’, it blends the signature sound of the band’s earlier work of the aggression and big, fun choruses. Great opener.
Disconnected – The most recent single at time of writing, ‘Disconnected’ is the most “2003 era” song since the band’s debut record. You could tell me this was a Page Avenue b-side, and I’d be convinced. Great song.
See Through – This song to me, from the entire record, is the most curious I’ve been about the instrumentation side of the band. The very start of the record, and the 1:40ish mark of the song, bleeds through this very British New Wave of Heavy Metal vibe. I can’t explain it properly, but it feels like an emo Iron Maiden track at times. It rules.
Fall Away – The heavy intro had me expecting a heavier tune than what we got, but to hear the pleasant surprise of Jacoby Shaddix from Papa Roach open the track was something I was not expecting, but also loved a whole bunch. And now I want a Papa Roach/Story of the Year tour, just to see this track done live.
3am – The heavy lean into almost pop punk on this track is simply amazing. There is stills screams throughout, and it’s heavy. But there is a pop punk approach to that track, I wish they would take more.
Into the Dark – Just when I thought the surprises were over, Story of the Year ripped out a slower, heavier song. This one is one of two songs from this record that needs to be setlist staples moving forward. The second verse is too good, I’m a total sucker for what they do on the outro too. The quiet, slow outro. Absolute quality.
My Religion – The outro to ‘Into the Dark’ feels like an intentional choice with ‘My Religion’ following on. The intro goes into this almost lofi rock sound, as Dan hits very interesting cadences on the verses. There is also a rap rock vibe on the verses I really like. Didn’t expect a breakdown on this track too at 1:50.
Halos – After showing the insane versatility of the record, ‘Halos’ feels like a bit of a return to the older sound of the band, which is nice to hear. Like ‘Disconnected’, you could tell me this was also a Page Avenue b-side, and I’d believe it. This one is for the older fans. The guitar solo is sick too.
Good For Me Feels So Bad – I haven’t been able to shake the feeling from this song, but something about it feels so familiar. Not in a bad way, but I get nostalgia for high school listening to it. It reminds me of the music I listened to around that time. And while it doesn’t feel influenced by any one thing in particular, it feels like a tribute of sorts to the mid 00s emo scene sonically.
Better Than High – Stripping everything back on the second last track to acoustic guitars and nothing else except vocals, gives Dan a true showcase of his ability. Even though vocals are a lot of what people pay attention to in music, Dan’s vocal ability is the most underrated part of the composition of this band. And seeing it on full display here, is something I’d love to see more.
I Don’t Wanna Feel Like This Anymore – Like with ‘Into the Dark’, this is the other song I think needs to be a setlist staple. There is a massive catharsis on the chorus that makes me just well up inside with emotion and the pain you can hear in the lyrics. And getting that catharsis at a show, in a live environment, is exactly where this song needs to sit, as well as perfectly as the album closer.
Final Thoughts
Tear Me to Pieces set a high bar for me. Outside Page Avenue, it’s my favourite Story of the Year record. And while I don’t think A.R.S.O.N. is better than it, purely as a subjective thing because of the love I have for Tear Me to Pieces, A.R.S.O.N. is 100% a worthy follow up, that continues a lot of the sound and trends of Tear Me to Pieces, and builds in sensible ways on top of it with new sounds and ideas.
The diversity of sound on this record is truly a feast for the ears. No two songs truly feel the same, outside of ‘Disconnected’ and ‘Halos’, which again, feel like 2000s era throwback tracks, which I loved. ‘3am’, ‘See Through’, and ‘My Religion’ are all examples of that. Overall, a fantastic record, and a record that should be in a lot of 2026 Best Of end of year lists.
Score – 8/10
Album Highlights – Gasoline (All Rage Still Only Numb), 3am, My Religion
