Listening to this new album by Good Charlotte one could imagine it being played live at a theatrical/symphonic venue like London’s Royal Albert Hall. It’s effectively a youthful pop/rock opera that documents life through the eyes of a rock band. It’s an epic musical adventure…

The album opens with the choral and orchestral prelude Once Upon A Time: The Battle of Life and Death. It’s a startling opening dominated in the first segment by lonely piano notes, teenage voices, before opening out with the full orchestral treatment. Then there’s a longer than usual silence before the band play the album’s title track. Megaphone vocals, pounding beats, regimental guitar riffs and a strong melody dominate this pop/rock song to good affect. Walk Away (Maybe) is an all together heavier rock tune that literally explodes out of the speakers to provide a strong hint that this could well be an album of diverse pace and mood. Track 4, S.O.S. hands the baton to the lead vocalist who proceeds to give an emotional performance before orchestral strings return to open I Just Wanna Live, one of the album’s best tracks. The song also reveals the first of a series of wonderful multi-layered, strident vocals and telling choruses.

Another striking track follows in the ELO inspired Ghost of You. Its scale is epic and the vibe is slower and more contemplative. It’s another potential single and another strong album highlight. Predictable is next up and features some wonderful string flourishes as it rushes along like a racing greyhound, while boasting another epic ambience and very major melody. The next song, Secrets highlights the band’s ability to write good lyrics: “In the dark, in the darkness you will find, dirty secrets that we all hide…”

Track 9 The Truth is the most beautiful, moving song with a dark, low-note piano backdrop, and at times provides some of the most passionate and expressive vocals on the album. I was very disappointed with the latest Embrace album for its shallowness and almost manufactured pop nature. Good Charlotte is arguably a similar genre of band but has created and performed an album full of integrity, adventure, excitement and passion which deserves to outsell Embrace 100-1. I hope it will because in the youthful pop/rock arena I’ve heard few better albums in 2004. THE CHRONICLES OF LIFE AND DEATH is an epic creation, with thirteen excellent songs plus one lovely secret acoustic track. Strongly recommended.

4.5/5