Review

It seems like every band you talk to these days wants to create a huge theatrical concept album that seamlessly ties together the elements of their music with storytelling. Out of all of the attempts in the past year only two masterpieces actually stick out in my mind; Armor For Sleep’s What To Do When You Are Dead, and Boys Night Out - Trainwreck.

“Introducing” sets the dismal, gritty tone by exposing the two characters of this 52 minute long tale: the patient and the doctor. The doctor begins diagnosing the patient’s disease and we find out that the patient was “plagued by violent nightmares which one night overflowed into reality...and he murdered his wife.” The patient is left with a lonely hole that he can’t seem to fill and starts to lose his sanity. Each track hereafter records the events of the doctors attempts to cure the patients illness and with one word titles explores that stage of the patients condition such as “Medicating,” “Relapsing” and “Healing.”

Not only have Boys Night Out found a way to create twelve songs around the same theme, they’ve used their new lineup to animate the story and bring to life every moment of hope, and despair. Connor Lovat-Fraser’s experience behind the mic is showcased more here than in the bands’ previous effort as he’s able to switch between throat shredding screaming and tuneful singing within a single verse and/or chorus.

Instrumentally, BNO sound immensely improved; so much so that you wouldn’t realize it was actually them until you heard Connor lay down the vocals. Which is quite impressive considering all of the member changes they’ve went through in the past year, and especially with the addition of Kara Dupuy who brings two new elements that Boys Night Out weren’t familiar with before; female vocals and a keyboardist. Dupuy adds a lot of depth to the sound which prevents any of the songs from coming off as shallow and uninspired. While many fans might look down on her addition, it’s undeniable that she adds an extra punch to the mix.

Sure, Trainwreck is more appropriately named after the chaotic unraveling of the patient within the story of the album, but it seems just as fitting for each listener after you’ve taken part in the emotional roller coaster that is unveiled by the time “Dying” kicks in and Lovat-Fraser is left repeating the punchline “these lines around my wrist are proof that I exist.”

Review by Jason Schleweis

5 out of 5