All That Remains - The Fall Of Ideals

All That Remains
The Fall Of Ideals
Prosthetic Records
8/10




Having caused quite a stir in the metal community with a strong sophomore effort, “This Darkened Heart,” there were reasonably high expectations from fans and critics alike in regard to this release. Depending on which side of the fence you may reside on, this album can be taken as either a step forward or a step back for the group.

You’ll hear far less solos and melodic guitar playing that was present on “This Darkened Heart.” This aspect will be inviting to many hardcore minded individuals, but for those who are true heavy metal fans all the way, this particular move will be seen as something of a cop-out and a move away from the more European sound the band was originally known for. Secondly, the overall guitar sound is very thin at times, lacking the bite necessary for the types of high-octave chugging employed by Oli Hebert and Mike Martin to be truly effective, often coming off as a “Megadeth-lite” sort of sound. Coupled with clean vocals courtesy of Phil Labonte that are much more emo sounding than in the past, the result sounds like ninety percent of other bands out there far too often.

Labonte’s vocals are quite diverse, however and the addition of guttural vox into the ATR mix is one that is highly welcome. Whether the powerful vocalist is tackling shrieks, barks or long-winded screams, he’s generally effective. The biggest problem with Labonte’s vocals is that, however talented they may be, they often resonate as sounding much like every other belter in the scene. This is unfortunate, because the man obviously has a ton of talent; it’s just not delivered in a manner that stands head and shoulders above the pack. Lyrically, you’ll find a lot of overused topical matter, but Labonte delivers them convincingly enough. Even cuts like “We Stand,” with a chorus that’s way too candy-coated for such a heavy song, packs a decent punch. “This Calling” and “It Dwells In Me” each stand up as being enjoyable, if a bit over-produced. There’s so much compression on these tracks that the songs have very little room to breathe. That said, most who enjoy Trivium’s “Ember To Inferno” will love the guitar work on these cuts.

“The Fall Of Ideals” is certainly a good album by what is one of the better live metal acts attempting to emerge from the underground today. Although the band’s aggressiveness does not always translate well during the eleven tracks you’ll find here, many fans should still find this to be an intriguing, if not altogether inspiring listen.

ERIN FOX © 2005 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED