Damn this is such an annoying album, just like all the others from Shadows Fall. I started playing it with an air of elitism thinking “yeah used to quite enjoy them when I was younger but now I have totally outgrown this band and only listen to troo kvlt musical art out of choice” (and this from a prick in their 40s). I start yawning and attempting to pick holes in it on the first play, moaning about the clean vocal harmonies being all so scene. By second spin I am thinking “hold on this really isn’t that bad at all”. Spin number three I am banging head and pounding desk as it plays, close even to playing air guitar. By the fourth play I am risking hernia by spinning around the room doing one man circle pits around the table completely hooked. Bastards, the curse of Shadows Fall strikes again.
To be honest I would have felt a bit guilty not liking this as Brian Fair is such a nice chap and the band are so dedicated at what they do. ‘The Art Of Balance’ was the album that first did it for me and the follow up ‘The War Within’ solidified their position. I think I even have a copy of last album ‘Retribution’ knocking around somewhere so it is good that the group are still going, even if it has taken them three years between studio albums.
From the cover art, album and song titles it is evident that this is the group’s apocalypse album and why not, it is 2012 after all, the year that fire may well rain down from the skies; although it must be said it looks more likely it is going to be floods that cull us the way things are going. There are ten tracks here plus two bonus numbers for the UK edition and two live cuts, resulting in almost an hours worth of music. Whilst there is no filler really (well I have tended to skip the live numbers) there are some tracks that really have had me going for it around the living room compared to others.
Opening with a shredding salad of guitars ‘The Unknown’ starts as it means to go on, urgent, dynamic and upbeat as hell. SF may be termed as metalcore but as the vocals fly in we are reminded more of the likes of old school thrash meeting the likes of Metallica. Clean harmonic vocals are added and despite my dislike I cannot fault them and they do for once add to things. This is the sound of a band that might not be a stadium headliner but one who should certainly be considered as support if the big players swing into town. The guitar work is excellent and the band knows how to compose a song mixing emotions of rage and fragments of calmness together seamlessly. For those of you feeling a bit meathead inclined there are plenty of brootal vest beating moments to get your adrenaline flowing here too. ‘Weight Of The World’ being one particular hefty bastard which has the scope to flatten things. The clean chorus of ‘Nothing Remains’ is one of those parts of the album that I should be hating but every time I get to it I find myself wanting to sing along, damnit. Every track has something to speak about, the title one has a mad break down in it which is absolutely designed for dance floor carnage and furniture wrecking in house, you will recognise it the second it hits like a typhoon.
This is a solid album that does not run out of steam in the slightest and kicks arse right up to ‘The Wasteland’ which finishes off the album proper with one of the best tracks including a chorus and gang shout combo to die for. It’s not quite done yet either and you should certainly stick around for the bonus tracks ‘A Death Worth Dying’ particularly being an infectious hooks in clinger.
After the carnage this one has caused the one question that remains is, where to visit first the hospital or Ikea?
(7.5/10 Pete Woods)
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