The Demo Review:
The Fallen There are currently 1 Reviews of this Demo.
Average Rating: 4

Demo Title: The Tones in Which We Speak
Band Members: Mike Granat (Guitar/Lead Vocals), Mark Venier (Guitar/Vocals), Bryan Klinger (Bass/Vocals), Henry Higgs (Drums/Vulgarities)
Location: Laguna Hills, CA
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    • Death's Review:
    If memory serves me correctly I met these guys at the March Metal Meltdown in Jersey, hanging in the beer garden of all places (we all know that's where all the real networking goes on at these things). Anyway, they said they had a new CD on the way and that they'd send one to Metal Judgment for review. Well, lo and behold, what should arrive in my mailbox last month but the new CD from The Fallen, The Tones in Which We Speak. Thank god for that beer garden, 'cause I really like this band.

    The awesome opening track, "Suffer With It" starts with a blast of heavy metal rage, and a flurry of a guitar solo a la the beginning of "Satan's Fall" by Mercyful Fate, before immediately serving as a platform for some cool, lyrically aggressive dictation from vocalist Mike Granat. Track two is the awesome title cut, which has kind of a Venom feel at points, and features some interesting drumming, dynamic changes, and once again, a passionate vocal shout. Most importantly to me, the song features a cool, slow, mosh-type riff under an extremely Kerry King-esque solo. This is quality metal, and while the production may be a bit poor, it is clearly more than forgivable. Each track on this record, from the anthemic third track, "All For None" (and its killer riff which kicks in about the 2:00 mark, or its Overkill's "Under One" -sounding ending) to the chugging insistence, and tastefully brief use of a nice clean guitar sound on "Harbringer," the fourth, each track has its own unique character and feel.

    Overall, The Fallen employ a warm fuzzy gutiar sound, giving them a Celtic Frost/ Motorhead/ Crowbar feel, yet their mildly hardcore-influenced vocal style and more modern song structures smack of bands like Machine Head or newer Soulfly/Sepultura. But make no mistake about it, The Fallen are decidedly NOT nu-metal. The sound is much more old school, the songs way too fast and inspired, and the delivery too thrashy to ever deserve that label.

    All in all, The Fallen produce sick sludge-riffing and originally gruff-sounding vocals (that's where the Crowbar comparison comes in as well), over tight songwriting with inspired vocals. Perhaps if they updated the production a bit for a more modern feel it might enhance their likability for some, however, it would also probably contribute to their becomming just another mediocre downtuned metal act. Instead, their intelligent lyrics and obvious passion for the music can, and are sure to, carry them far. Check this one out.
    4 out of 5
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