Still Remains are a metalcore band much like super band “It Dies Today”. The two bands are very similar however it is said that Still Remains have a better singer, something that I personally disagree with however the majority of people I speak to on this matter all say that the Still Remains front man has a better voice, but that is for you to decide. Like I said Still Remains are a metalcore band that can be described as sounding like It Dies Today. Still Remains album “Of Love And Lunacy” is a great album, which I really like, the band is tight and whether you like metalcore or not it cannot be debated that Still Remains play together well. Unlike many metalcore bands like As I Lay Dying where some people find the vocals a little hard to like Still Remains are that little bit easier on the ears making them more likeable to people who don’t fully understand the ways of metalcore however this isn’t to say that those who are true to the metalcore genre won’t like this band. Ok let’s get into the album:
To Live And Die By Fire:
This song kicks off the album with a bang, a short drum intro then we’re into the song minus the singing. The guitars play some catchy riffs and we’re swept away on a musical journey. With the instruments setting the scene of what is yet to come in the album then comes the singing. Screamed/growled fitting in with the instruments well, with the singing varying here and there between growls and small amounts of singing to keep it interesting and the riffs changing all the time to keep us on your toes and yet it isn’t overdone. A great way to start off a great album I give this song 5/5
The Worst Is Yet To Come:
After To Live And Die By Fire is over we’re straight into The Worst Is Yet To Come, my personal favourite song on the album. As the song kicks off everything starts, the bass, drums, guitars and singing. With the chorus in this song actually being sung rather than growled. With some nice guitar that helps to build us up to a climax in this song. And the drums beating smoothly. This song sounds great and I give it a big 5/5.
In Place Of Hope:
A nice short drum intro then come the guitars in a nice riff that really gets you attention. Then come the vocals. Then in comes some weird effects and then the vocals become almost distant by use of an effect. Then some nice singing. Back we go into the real music with our metalcore vocals, and some nice guitar pauses where it just leaves us hearing vocals, which is quite effective. Then we have a verse and then a fast drumbeat that really picks up the tempo for the next verse. And then again the drums come in again. We then get those distant sounding vocals, which is the downfall of the song. Then we’re back into the chorus, which is sung. With song more growled vocals then the song is over. This song I didn’t feel lived up to the rest of the album as I am not a fan of the sort of effects that they used and I felt that it left the song a little broken I give this song 3.5/5
White Walls:
Some nice lead guitar to start us off, then we’re into the vocals and a strong drum beat. We go into some nicely sung vocals and melodic guitar and as soon as you think that you might get a little sick of this sound it changes back to the heavier sound as if it read your mind. Then we get more singing again and I nice guitar rhythm riff with effective pauses and growled vocals. We then see some good guitar riffs and we hear that lead guitar that started the song off. This song shows some creativity and is a great song I give it a 5/5.
Bliss:
Kicked off with some chugging guitar accompanied with vocals that really get you going. It’s the first time in the album where we see the vocals come straight in. After the verses comes something that we haven’t seen as yet in this album and that is some anthem chanting which is really effective. As it comes in between the growled vocals and makes us want to hear more to see what else they have in store for us. Then the vocals get a little bit of a rest and we’re into a soft singing almost talking vocals and the guitars and drum are quiet. Then with the instruments staying the same the vocals start to scream and this is very effective. Into a chugging guitar riff we go then the vocals come in again and the guitars change back. The verse goes for a while then the song softens as if it is about to end, then the singing comes back and guitar come in for one last time before the song really does end. We’re left very happy as that song was great and it deserves nothing less than 5/5.
Cherished:
A really awesome guitar riff starts us off and we’re into the vocals. Then we’re straight into some nicely sung lyrics, which then alternates between singing and growling. A Short pause and we’re back into the growls. Then the singing again. Then the song changes it’s feel and the vocals are again sung. The song then slows down only to hit us with some heavy guitar. Then singing again. Which again unfortunately goes on for a second too long before it changes back and we hear a guitar riff then again back into the singing. We get a small bit of lead guitar work sounds good right before the song ends. One of the weaker songs on the album this only gets a 3/5.
With What You Have:
A nice piano instrumental song that gives us time to recuperate.
Kelsey:
Drums and guitar kick this song off with great effectiveness. Then we hear the singing come in. Which then stops and comes back in bursts then we get a good full run of growling and a great guitar riff. Then into the normal vocals and guitar and drums. Then we see some lead guitar then with a simple pickscrape we’re back into the singing. And that nice guitar riff comes back again. Then we get some guitar and drums with singing behind it in the background and the song is over.
Recovery:
Starts off with light guitar, which is then overtaken with growled vocals then the instruments get heavy with it. With some guitar lead in the background, behind the vocals and drums. Then we have some nice singing and some chugging guitar. Growls with pauses and in between the pauses some great lead guitar fills. Then we go into a soft spot, which fits in well, and then into some singing. However this singing gets a little repetitious after a while. Then a slight pause and I nice singing part, which even though, was starting to get a little repetitious, this has a different sound and fits well. However this singing is repeated again so it again feels repetitious. Then we finally get back into the growling and heavy guitar and drumming. The song finished with a drum dominated sound. I give this song a 4/5.
I Can Revive Him With My Own Hands:
A guitar intro, that sounds great and makes you expect a great song. Then the growling starts. The guitars and vocals still going strong and you hear the faint sound of keyboards in the background and also singing behind the growls that sounds quite good. Then we get a pause and some eerie sounds with are interrupted with a short drum beat then after a little more eeriness the song starts again. With growling drums and guitars and bass all going strong. The keyboards in the background start to come again. Then just like that they stop and the song gets a different feel as the vocals are altered and this sounds great. Then we’re back to the standard sound again. Then we get into the growling with the sounds of screaming people behind it giving the song a urgent sound as if there is a need to help someone. Then one last chord is hit on the guitars, that rings out and the song is over. I give this song a 5/5.
Stare And Wonder:
My second favourite song.
This song starts off with a bang of sound then some lead guitar and we’re into the singing. With growling behind it. Some guitar that stands out while the vocals go back to straight growling. Then some guitar backing and some singing/talking. Then we go into singing which sounds great as it is altered and just sounds great, it is hard to describe. Then we’re back into vocals and some lead guitar backing. Then a drum breakdown and then we’re right back into the guitar riffs and growls. Then into that great singing. Then into the growling and then we nearly straight away go back into singing with growling backing. Then a short period of growls and that great singing again. Then after a while of singing we get that singing with growling then straight singing again then straight growling. A pause then some growls and some cool guitar then a softer guitar with sung/whispered vocals, that repeat the lyrics “you should have let me live.” Then the drums and guitar and vocals finish and the song ends with some piano that is a great coda. That song deserves nothing less than 5/5.
Blossom The Witch:
This song starts off softly and eerily. Then it builds up to guitar and drums coming through strong. Then the beat and riff changes and the vocals come in. The song goes along well, then we hear a pause and some heavy guitar then back into the song we go. Then again we hear the song slowdown and the some slow growls. Then the song picks up again with no singing until the song pauses. Then starts again on a great sounding riff, which alternates between singing and guitar. Then we go into both playing together again. Then the vocals stop and we hear a strong drumbeat coming through, after a while of this the vocals get slowly growled along between the drumbeats. A short guitar part where everything else stops then everything kicks back in again and the song gets underway yet again. With growls and heavy guitar and drums. This goes on for a while, then we hear one last guitar chord and drum beat that rings out and we hear some weird sounds ringing out with it and this goes on until it all fades away and the song is over. This song is great and gets a 5/5.
Overall a great CD and from me gets a 4.5/5.
This is my first ever review so any feedback whether it be positive or negative would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
