Artist: Shadows Fall
Label: Century Media
Release Date: 9/17/02
Average Rating: 3
Go to Judgment Committee Reviews of this Album
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Title: The Art of Balance Artist: Shadows Fall Label: Century Media Release Date: 9/17/02 |
There are currently 1 Reader Reviews of this album.
Average Rating: 3 Go to Judgment Committee Reviews of this Album |
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Submitted by Berkley Black (12/10/02):
I don't know what my problem is, but I think this band is mediocre at best. I have given this album many chances and each time they [Shadows Fall] and it have fallen very short of my expectations and hopes. Though I must compliment them on their radio playability and ultimate desire for fame. I mean, hey, who doesn't want money and fame, right?Ok, for posterity's sake these guys from Massachusetts can really wank those guitars, which at any other time I would applaud but in this case it just gets tiresome. The whole album save 3 songs and excluding the Pink Floyd cover sounds like the same song to me. Hell even one of those 3 sounds like the other with a bit of catchy commercialism thrown in. I just think that if you are going to wank your guitar then you should keep it interesting for the listener who likes a whole musical experience. Take a look at bands like Shadow (Japan), Strapping Young Lad, Children of Bodom, and Dew Scented. What do all these bands have that this one doesn't, try foreign citizenships for starters. For some reason every American band in this genre sounds like really heavy and/or talented versions of Linkin Park. See Haste and Living Sacrifice (yes I know they are a Christian band and don't really count but they aren't all that bad).
And for the matter at hand Shadows Fall isn't all that bad of a band either. They posses a lot of talent and are quite engaging live, but this album is boring. Track 6 (Art of balance) is very enjoyable and quite slower than the rest of the tracks on the album, and that really works for them. I'm still not sure what to think of these bands that seem like poor Soilwork and In Flames tribute bands, but suffice to say I will stick with the European acts when it comes to this new thrash/techinical/hardcore-partialy abrasive and particularly enjoyable if done right, music. Thanks Shadows Falls, I think next time I shall let you keep on falling into some other fools collection and instead relish the beauty that Sweden, Finland, Germany and the like have shared with us.
(Just so you know that I am not overly biased to Americans let me say that Nile, Agalloch, Sculptured, Dillinger Escape Plan and Dark Angel are some of my favs and on regular rotation in player and in my store.)
1 skull for the album and 5 skulls for the band give it a nice average of 3.
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