Artist: Shadows Fall
Label: Century Media
Release Date: 4/4/00
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Title: Of One Blood Artist: Shadows Fall Label: Century Media Release Date: 4/4/00 |
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Abyss's Review:
I've seen this band a couple of times before I actually got the pleasure of hearing them in a studio setting, and it's never been much of a mystery as to why Century Media snatched these Massholes up. Any band that is so generally accepted in both the hardcore and metal communities is obviously doing something very different, or at least very good. Shadows Fall are doing both. Now, while there are definitely hardcore influences in this band, I'm not really sure why the Hardcore folk are digging this one; I mean they should because it's awesome, but I just don't see much that they would get into. The hardcore spice that's added to this soup seems to forsake the hip hop element that is currently so prevalent in that scene, and that's probably why the metalheads are digging this one so much more than other "crossover" projects.
Of course, there is a huge death metal influence in this sound, melding traditional American death with parts that sound like they could be inspired by older Edge of Sanity. This may not be obvious in the first few listens, but trust me it's there.
" This is an album that I consider to have no throwaways. That in and of itself is quite unusual, and proves to me that this band will be something special for a long time." Their multiple vocal attack is a huge asset. The clean vocals playing off a very impressive death growl. This is an important point and one I think is often overlooked. When most bands want to do the dual vocal thing, I think it is often the growl that suffers. It seems many bands think getting a good clean vocalist is the more challenging crusade, so they let anyone try to belt out the grind. Shadows Fall are impressive all around the vocal front, and are made even more impressive by the fact that their music is just as perfected. They have not forgotten the craft of songwriting, and incorporate much more inspired music than the strict verse-chorus-verse-chorus formula that I would have expected. Every track is a winner, but perhaps the title track is the most impressive, along with "To Ashes," it ranks with my favorites on the album, and that is on an album that I consider to have no throwaways. That in and of itself is quite unusual, and proves to me that this band will be something special for a long time.
Death's Review:
"Metalcore." What does the term really mean? Anyone who truly understands the early days of thrash knows the answer -- not much. Long ago, before death metal as we now know it was even born, bands like Cro-Mags, D.R.I. And Suicidal Tendencies so sufficiently blurred the lines between metal and hardcore that to now say that a band sounds like a combination of the two styles has almost no practically useful application. Anyone who has watched the backstage interview with Dave Lombardo on the first Ultimate Revenge video knows that even Slayer was born as much of punk, hardcore and speed as it was of Black Sabbath.
So today, whenever I’m told a band is "metalcore," I find it tells me little. Either the band is metal enough to be worthy of the term, or they are a hardcore band with metallic guitars. So whether or not you associate Shadows Fall with metalcore, the proper inquiry remains "are Shadows Fall metal?" The answer? Yes.
"The proper inquiry remains "are Shadows Fall metal?" The answer? Yes." One listen to the simple At the Gates-esque crushing brutality combined with the "No More Tears" atmospheric mid-solo section of the aptly-named "Crushing Belial" should more than take care of that. But not only are Shadows Fall metal, better yet, they’re awesome -- undoubtedly, one of the best new American acts to come down the pike in quite some time.
Shadows Fall is a technical collection of intricate riffing, melodic sensibilities, pounding "big kit" metal drumming, and vocal growl. Yes, Century Media has probably stumbled across an act who may be uniquely positioned to capture the hearts of underground metallers and the Roadrunner mainstream all at once. Sure, Shadows Fall are best described as a combination of Iron Maiden, Carcass, At the Gates, old Amorphis, Machine Head and Skinlab. But songs like "Montauk" are so sickly metallic in their intensity, intricacy and power that they should only be measured against the highest order of their metallic peers. And no hardcore band I know of ever sounded this good.
Shadows Fall are unique in their street-level delivery and often mosh-based riffings. But there are so many Gothenburg death stylings included (including harmonized guitar fills and tremolo picking, e.g., "To Ashes") that unless At the Gates are metalcore, Shadows Fall are surely not. Some of the cleaner, acoustic passages are downright beautiful (the beginning of "Crushing Belial.") When all is said and done, the resulting combination is pretty darn original and very, very cool.
"This is the kinda stuff that should get exposure on the level of the Ozzfest -- if only the world knew better. Do yourself a favor, check this one out." It's almost as if the years slogging away in the New England/ Boston scene forced these guys to cloak their true metallic nature long enough that it had a mild impact on the sound. In the end, we’re left with a powerful death metal band that has the pounding riffing fury of Pantera, the death metal growl of Vital Remains, the melodic dual-guitar fury of In Flames and the accessibility of Slipknot. It’s a great combination. I’d be surprised if Shadows Fall doesn’t do very well in the current American scene. Metalheads arriving from several different factions will find something about them to appreciate. Most importantly, all will find that it probably speaks to them.
In some ways, Shadows Fall are just another cool sounding post-Sepultura thrash metal band ("Fleshold") with the occasional ripping lead ("Root Bound Apollo.") In other ways, Shadows Fall are total next-level shit ("Fleshold," "Root Bound Apollo"). You get the point -- it all rules on multiple tiers. This is the kinda stuff that should get exposure on the level of the Ozzfest -- if only the world knew better. Do yourself a favor, check this one out.
Hel's Review:
If you are looking for diversity in your metal, check out Shadows Fall. Their influences, by the sounds of it, seem to range from Suicidal Tendencies to Slayer. There’s a delightful plethora of all things metal to be found on this cd.
"If you are looking for diversity in your metal, check out Shadows Fall. Their influences, by the sounds of it, seem to range from Suicidal Tendencies to Slayer." You name it, Shadows Fall probably touches on it. Depending on which track you are currently listening to, any number of examples may come to mind regarding the current musical style employed. Often I hear bands that are amazingly versatile in their songwriting. Never have I heard a band as versatile as this. From one song to the next, even within the same song on many occasions, they blend styles from one to another so well that you simultaneously may notice that they have changed and wonder if you are still listening to the same band.
This is an amazingly skilled group of musicians. They make extremely technical passages sound effortless. They shift back and forth between styles in the midst of songs seamlessly. This album is truly a wonder to listen to. From beginning to end. Over and over.
Invariably I come to the end only to look up and be amazed that it’s already over. At first I thought that it must be because there’s not many songs on the record. There’s 10, so that can’t be it. So then I think that the songs must just be really short. Well, sure, the intro track is only 49 seconds, but the rest of the songs range from 3:37 to a robust 6:20 - not short by most standards.
I can only attribute the apparent brevity of the album to the old adage, "time flies when you’re having fun." This album ranks highly on my list of the most fun a metalhead can have in one hour.
"This is an amazingly skilled group of musicians." If you’re open to hearing a fresh, talented band, check them out. As far as I’m concerned, Shadows Fall is my new favorite up and coming band.
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