I’d read a couple of reviews of 'Dear Diary…' before I purchased this album and all of them said that From First To Last were another Screamo/Post Hardcore band, which there are a lot of at the moment, but FFTL had something that made them stand out of the crowd. So I downloaded a couple of their songs, one which was from this album (‘Secrets Don’t Make Friends’) and one which wasn’t (‘Failure By Designer Jeans’). Both of those tracks blew me away and knowing that this band was also signed to the always credible Epitaph Records, I knew I had to get hold of this album.

I have to say that I am extremely glad I bought this album as I have now had it on repeat in my car for about a month which is awesome although I’m not sure how safe it is to be rocking out behind the wheel. Straight from the start of this it’s like the FFTL are trying to kick your ass with their by smacking you around from side to side, its music that’s impossible to sit still to. Straight from singer Sonny Moore’s brilliant first line “Hell ladies and gentlemen, I’m glad you’ve graced me with your presence”, FFTL really get the party started. First track ‘The One Armed Boxer vs. The Flying Guillotine’ is a great introduction to the band and from there on in it just gets better and better. ‘Note To Self’ is next and is probably (in my opinion) the Emo track of the year, it is just an awesome emotional track with a beautiful breakdown where Sonny Moore sings “Note to self I miss you terribly, this is what we call a tragedy; come back to me, back to me, to me”. It really should have been released as a lead single and if it had of been there’s no knowing how big FFTL might be now. Then there’s something totally different in the form of the awesomely titled ‘I Liked You Better Before You Were Naked On The Internet’. It’s a very electronic influence song that still had Sonny Moore’s beautiful vocals over the top and is a real stand out track. ‘Emily’ is another song where the melodic vocal’s really stand out and provide a great insight into this little acoustic number.

‘Secret’s Don’t Make Friends’ is another harder track that manages to be to be brutal but beautiful at the same time. ‘Populace In Two’ is another one of my favorite tracks and like ‘Note To Self’ switches extremely well between the harder parts to the melodic breakdowns & yet again contains some great lyric like “Even if I spend 2004 listening to Morrissey in my car, I’m better off alone than I would be in your arms”. Then there’s the addictive ‘Kiss Me I’m Contagious’ which is an awesome track to dance to and even though I’ve never seen FFTL live before, I bet this is a track that makes the mosh pits go crazy. The final song on the album is the single ‘Ride The Wings Of Pestilence’ which is another killer track that will get people hooked to this brilliant band. Although this is a brilliant song to end the album on, I feel that there are about 4 other songs on this album that would have been better as a single.

I have to say that this album has far surpassed my expectations, I was expecting to enjoy this album (or at least bits of it) but I really wasn’t expecting to fall in love with this album. This album has so much to offer, there are great lyrics, melodic vocals, killer guitars and drums that at times hit like bullets from a machine gun. From First To Last are a band that you can’t just slip into one Genre, on Dear Diary… they’ve tried their hand a bit of Emo, Hardcore, Punk and Metal and come out with a kick ass album and one of my personal favourite albums of the year. I have no doubt that with a debut album as good as this that FFTL are going to go on and have a very successful 2005. To all other bands who want to come out and become another Taking Back Sunday wannabe Emo band, think about taking the From First To Last route and come up with something original or just don’t bother.

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