Danny Worsnop, best known for being the vocalist of British metalcore band Asking Alexandria, returns with something that’s completely off the rails from anything he’s done in the past. Forged through years of addiction, substance abuse, heartache, pain and self-loathing ‘The Long Road Home’ sees him pursuing a career in the more southern/country side of the musical spectrum. After relocating to Nashville, TN when he left AA, he became inspired by all the country lifestyle and all it had to offer. Featuring a more bluesy, soulful sound… This is Worsnop at his most vulnerable moments, put on display for the world to see.
No subject is too taboo for the singer/songwriter, as he tackles his battles with his many demons. Melancholic, depressive tracks like “Prozac” will have you feeling overly emotional. “I Feel Like Shit,” on the other hand has a vaudeville vibe to it, playful, light and bouncy while Worsnop recalls all the times that he’s suffered a hangover from the previous night’s ventures. A modern country hit, if ever there was one, is the album’s lead single “Mexico.” I can’t tell, entirely, if this is a satirical track that is aimed at the most common things found in the genre, or if he legitimately feels the way he does. What I can say is that, no matter the case, he sells it well. This is probably where Worsnop sounds the most “country,” really tapping into that twang and southern vibe within him.
No two tracks are alike and each track is designed to make you feel a certain emotion or set of emotions. He talks about his struggle with keeping his faith in “Quite a While,” which includes a beautiful violin section, slide guitar and a lot of gang vocals which sound very choral. This track has a much happier tone to it and, if I had to guess, this is where he really began to see the repercussions of all he’d been doing to himself, and the ones surrounding him. If you want something that feels a bit more nostalgic, you’ll love “Don’t Overdrink It.” This track is strongly led by piano, steel guitar and has a “clap-stomp” rhythm to it. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he added that aspect into his live show, once he begins to perform these tracks live. One of my favorite tracks sees Worsnop bringing out his inner Charlie Daniels in “The Man.” This track is very fast-paced, has spoken-word verses and recalls my love for tracks like “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” in that they tell a story through the music.
The Long Road Home is a tell-all account of the way Worsnop hit rock bottom and his climb back up to the top (currently back in Asking Alexandria, where he just finished off the 10 Years in the Black tour celebrating the 10th anniversary of long-time label Sumerian Records.) If you’ve ever wanted to feel closer to Worsnop, to find out if he’s dealt with the same things that we all deal with on a daily basis… The Long Road Home will call to you like a siren’s song. Be sure to pick up your copy of The Long Road Home, out February 17th via Earache Records!
—
Written By,
Barrett Chase Stephens