Baltimore’s own sonic warrior, Will Sims, detonates an emotional bomb with “Do You Feel Alive?”. This 7-track, 28-minute juggernaut is what happens when an artist claws through a decade of life’s sucker punches and comes out the other side, battered but blazing, with songs that have so much energy and unflinching honesty. Recorded at Deep End Studio with his longtime partner-in-crime, producer Tony Correlli, this is your front-row ticket to Sims’ psyche, powered by this glorious, chaotic mashup of Pop, Alternative Rock, Ska, Industrial, EDM, and Funk. Picture Bowie’s chameleon spirit meeting Reznor’s industrial grit, then cranked through a Baltimore filter.
Sims hasn’t just made an album; he’s survived making it. Started back in 2014 with the single “Amber Eyes”, this project turned into a decade-long odyssey, constantly getting sidelined by “life changes and curveballs.” You can hear that struggle bleeding into every note, and that’s what gives “Do You Feel Alive?” its authenticity. This is music forged through sheer persistence, a “damn you” to every setback, and man, the payoff is huge. You don’t just hear the effort – you feel its weight and that ultimate, triumphant release.
“Do You Feel Alive?” makes it crystal clear it won’t be boxed in. The opener “Full Speed Ahead” totally delivers on its promise – it’s a pedal-to-the-metal blast of pure attitude that yanks you right into the action. Talk about making an entrance! This riff-heavy monster charges straight into Sims’ wild musical playground. Then boom – we’re suddenly swimming in the raw, honest waters of “Better Off Alone”, and you realise Sims can switch from balls-to-the-wall rock to heart-on-sleeve ballads without breaking a sweat. That push and pull between emotions – that’s what makes this album tick.
The genre alchemy is where Sims and Correlli truly flex. “Amber Eyes” (featuring the stellar Lindsay Collette) might’ve been born back in 2014, but man, it sounds like it was made yesterday. The way they blend different vibes just works. Then we hit “Decisions, Decisions” and holy smokes – Joe Ruggiero’s guitar work is insane. Those licks growl and snap at you, adding this rough edge that pushes everything into heavier, meatier territory. And if you think that’s intense, wait till you hear “The Mourning Moon” dive even deeper, proving Sims isn’t afraid to explore the darker, weightier corners of the human experience.
Look, this might be Will Sims’ brainchild through and through, but man, this album absolutely burns with everyone’s fingerprints on it. The drummers Jeff Gardner and Cody Cook are the heart pumping blood through this whole thing. Whether they’re laying down those punchy ska grooves or hammering out industrial-strength thunder, these guys are the engine that keeps this wild ride moving.
And let’s talk about how the guest vocalists – Lindsay Collette and Abbey Danna are essential to the whole vibe. When Collette jumps in on “Amber Eyes,” she brings this whole different energy that plays perfectly against everything else. Then Danna comes in on the closing track “There’ll Be Another Time” and just nails it with this powerful send-off that’ll stick with you. Their voices blend with Sims’ in ways that open up the whole emotional landscape of the record.
But here’s what really gets us about “Do You Feel Alive?” – it’s the honesty Sims brings to the table. Knowing what he’s been through with depression, suicidal thoughts, and all that self-doubt (stuff he’s been brave enough to share in his mental health writings), you hear these songs differently. This isn’t some kid pretending to be angsty for street cred. This is someone who’s taken years of real pain and turned it into something powerful. Songs like “Better Off Alone” and “The Mourning Moon” hit you because they’re coming from that real place. The album title itself feels like Sims throwing down a challenge to all that darkness: Do You Feel Alive? And every track on here screams YES, even when it hurts. It’s not about wallowing – it’s about finding your power in the struggle, using music as your lifeline. If you’ve ever fought your own demons, this is gonna hit home hard.
Shout-out must be made to Deep End Studio and the pivotal role of producer Tony Correlli. This wasn’t just some recording space; it was a battleground where they slugged it out for ten brutal years, even when the studio had to pack up and move. The way they handle all these wild genre mashups is electric, not messy – every piece gets its time to explode, whether it’s those punchy ska horns, the grinding industrial synths, or those groovy bass runs that’ll shake your bones.
“Do You Feel Alive?” is a straight-up victory lap. This is THE album Will Sims was destined to drop – ten years of blood, sweat, and pure stubborn faith all rolled into one. It’s a wild ride through sound and soul that flips the bird at anyone trying to box it in. All that genre-mixing? That’s not some cheap trick – it’s just how Sims’ musical brain works. Everyone brings their A-game here: Sims pours his guts out, while Gardner, Cook, Ruggiero, Collette, and Danna absolutely tear it up. And Correlli’s production? It’s got balls and brains in equal measure.
This is music with guts, heart, and something urgent to say. It rocks, it grooves, it contemplates, and it roars. Will Sims has poured his pain, his hope, and his relentless drive into these seven tracks, and the result is electrifying. “Do You Feel Alive?” doesn’t only ask the question; it makes you feel the answer. Baltimore, your boy just dropped a classic. The revolution starts now. Catch the fire live at the album release bash on August 23rd at Monument City Brewing Company – consider it mandatory.