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I PREVAIL
‘TRUE POWER’ 
Album Review

(19th August 2022)

Review by Shaquira Hobbs

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Michigan-based I Prevail are back with their third LP True Power, the highly anticipated follow up to 2019’s Trauma.

Line-up:

Brian Burkheiser – Vocals
Eric Vanlerberghe – Vocals
Dylan Bowman – Guitar
Steve Menoian – Guitar/Bass
Gabe Helguera -Drums

I Prevail is an American rock band formed in Southfield, Michigan, in 2013.

I Prevail made a name for themselves when their metal cover of ‘Blank Space’  by Taylor Swift hit the Billboard 100 in 2014 and eventually Platinum certified in 2019. I Prevail went on to release the first two singles from the EP, “Love, Lust, and Liars” and “The Enemy”. The band released their debut EP, Heart vs. Mind, in December, 2014.

 In 2016 I Prevail announced their debut album “Lifeline”. After a couple years of touring we were blessed with the album “Trauma” in 2019. Trauma became the fourth best selling album the week it was released in the US and #6 on the Aria album charts. It’s first single, “Breaking Down”, hit the top 10 of the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in May 2019.

The band went on to receive two Grammy Nominations; the Best Rock Album for Trauma, and the Best Metal Performance for “Bow Down”.

Here we are now in 2022 and I Prevail have put together an absolute kicker of an album “True Power” and in my opinion, it’s the best one yet! And just in time for summer in Australia.

The band has done over 100 million streams in Australia alone and my guess is this album will push them way higher. In June they performed their biggest Australian headline tour, completely sold out!

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I PREVAIL
TRUE POWER:

0-00

Starting off with the intro track “0-00” giving an eerie yet intriguing build up that smoothly flows into the first track. I can see this being an  intro for live shows and a great way to get the crowd hyped.

There’s Fear In Letting Go

Starting with a simple melody, heavy drum beats and smooth guitar riffs this song builds up into clean vocals and epic screams. My favourite part of this track is the suspenseful crescendo at 2:20 that leads into a heavy punch of a beat.

Body Bag

If you’re a true I prevail fan you would have already listened to body bag and know that this song is the heavy we needed. The tempo and deep vocals are the perfect mix to get your blood pumping. Body bag is definitely a song that will go hard at a live show, but I can’t wait to see self destruction and bad things live.

Self-Destruction

Self destruction starts with a static guitar and spoken rap style vocals that builds and builds into a head banging chorus. Perfect balance of clean vocals and screams with a crescendo that will get the crowd going. This one got me up and going!

Bad Things

Bad Things starts slow and steady with a trance style mix that brings you into the moment. Brian Burkheiser crisp, clean vocals is just what this song needed and I am feeling every moment of this track. The lyrics are extremely catchy and I have not been able to get this one out of my head. Everyone will be singing along to this one.

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Fake

Pushing the boundaries into a new direction with “fake”  I am here for it! The guitar riffs are big and the vocal mix is the perfect balance.

Judgement Day

Straight into it with “judgement day” Eric Vanlerberghe nailed the scream right off the bat. Definitely one of the heavier songs on this album and one I’m sure will get the crowd going crazy

FWYTYK

This one is heavy and  has an interesting melody and a bit different for I prevail but bringing me back to early 2000s metalcore . FWYTYK gives horror movie/ video game vibes.

Deep End

Starting soft with a beautiful melody and building up to a crescendo and catchy chorus this track lands on the softer side of the band’s music style. The drummer Gabe Helguera gives us a perfect beat.

Long Live The King

Back with the spoken rap style “long live the king” are the first words you hear as the band opens in harmony. Starts of steady building and building into a simple chorus with massive guitar riffs. This is one everyone can sing a long too.

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Choke

I prevail start straight off with Dylan Bowman (Guitar) giving us an electric riff and Gave Helguera (Drums) joining in, Steve Menoian (bass) adding in the perfect balance too a perfect melody building into some brutal screams by Eric Vanlerberghe and clear backing vocals from Brian Burkheiser.

The Negative

The negative started off soft, giving me the idea this one was going to be a slow and steady track and then we are hit with an epic chorus and some dirty beats then coming around back for a smooth clean chorus that is repeated throughout the song and finishing off with some huge screams and clean vocals.

Closure

The perfect break up song in my opinion, meaningful lyrics we can all relate to at some point or another but also enough heavy to get those emotions out when Eric Vanlerberghe blesses us with an absolute beast of a scream.

Visceral

Visceral starts off with a dirty riff and then into some insane vocals by Eric Vanlerberghe. The chorus has some great back and forth between both vocalists Eric Vanlerberghe and Brian Burkheiser and then Eric finishes by absolutely screaming our heads off and I am here for it! This one will for sure get the crowd moshing and the wall of death going!

Doomed

A perfect way to finish off such a heavy album. Doomed has a soft, peaceful melody with lyrics that touch on the way a lot of people would be feeling after the past few years. This is definitely a track I think a lot of people will enjoy whether they are into I prevail or not. The track finishes off with Brian Burkheiser singing “until the music stops” and brings an end to the album “true power”.

The album overall has a massive emotional element to it, and lyrics that fit in with the current climate. The boys have clearly worked hard to evolve their sound and have produced and delivered a quality album.

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I PREVAIL
TRUE POWER

RELEASE DATE: FRIDAY 19 AUGUST

FEARLESS RECORDS

Reviewer – Shaquira Hobbs

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TRUE POWER 
Track Listing

01. 0:00
02. There’s Fear In Letting Go
03. Body Bag
04. Self-Destruction
05. Bad Things
06. Fake
07. Judgement Day
08. FWYTYK
09. Deep End
10. Long Live The King
11. Choke
12. The Negative
13. Closure
14. Visceral
15. Doomed

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Follow I PREVAIL

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Press Release 19th August 2022 (below) HERE

I PREVAIL
release
SELF-DESTRUCTION
video

New album
‘TRUE POWER’ 
out Now

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AMNPLIFY – DB