Picture Me Broken – Wide Awake

Redwood City, CA’s Picture Me Broken is solid example of a group growing off image and reputation that also brings enough bite to back up its bark.  Falling somewhere in the realm of metalcore “lite” or mild screamo, the young group forms around the remarkably developed voice of front woman Layla “Brooklyn” Allman, and the power-heavy chug of dual guitarists Nick Loiacono and Will Escher.  Along with Bassist Austin Dun and Drummer Connor Lung’s medium and low screams respectively, they create a sound that should leave fans of bands like Eyes Set To Kill quite happy.

Although featuring plenty of quality guitar and drum work in their debut full length, Wide AwakeI, it’s the vocal variety that provides Picture Me Broken’s wide appeal.  Brooklyn herself emits a strong and confident presence, in essence matching the clean cries dominating tracks like “Dearest I’m So Sorry” (an easy candidate for a radio hit) with deep growled howls (as per “Darwin’s Song”).  She’s a great match for the genre, and I’d challenge anyone to say otherwise.  Furthermore “Echoes Of An Empire” stands out as a vocal high point with all vocalists contribute in emphasis, with the track even featuring Ten Days New vocalist Tyler Bush for a little extra push.

Instrumentally most of Wide Awake is business as usual, but that shouldn’t be confused with boring or stale.  While at times a little generic in riffage, some solid technical work shines through early on as per “Dead Serious,” and the slow, lamenting church bells accompanying “If I Never Wake Again”’s moody introductory organ.  Together such variety establishes Wise Awake’s flow, making for a fairly memorable listen.

Otherwise, my only real gripe rests in the lyrics.  Despite a solid delivery, many words never really seep through.  True, lines like “I’ve got a heart made out of chrome and ice” (taken from the aforementioned “Dead Serious”) make for some impressionable stand alone imagery, but they never build up to anything particularly profound.

Still, Picture Me Broken’s debut holds up well considering the cramped genre’s stiff competition.  Also consider that none of the band members are over seventeen, and it’s easy to imagine future potential.  But as Wide Awake makes clear, the band’s next step is crucial.

Will they continuing crafting and realizing their budding promise?  Or will they slip into the commercial trap of repackaged sounds as per far too many of today’s metalcore groups?  I know I’m being picky, but even with a solid debut, Picture Me Broken still has much to prove.  In the mean time, Wide Awake will no doubt earn the ears of many new fans and set the tone for future endeavors.