All Shall Perish
The Price of Existence


4.0
excellent

Review

by Thor USER (73 Reviews)
April 30th, 2007 | 1182 replies


Release Date: 2006 | Tracklist

Review Summary: The Price of Existence comes charging towards you at 100 mph and never lets up. All Shall Perish deliver one of the most intense metal albums of 2006. However, one can only listen to so many breakdowns in one album.

Intensity: great energy, strength, concentration, vehemence, etc., as of activity, thought, or feeling.

All Shall Perish really like being intense. Intense to the point where you almost feel uneasy listening to them. There are few albums I have that wear me out while I listen to them, and The Price of Existence is definitely one of them. I can only think of a few instances where this album lets the listener breathe, and the rest of the time the Californian quintet is pummeling your ear-drums with brutal down tuned riffs, chugging breakdowns, and mindless shred wankery. The Price of Existence shouldn’t be taken likely, but it’s one of the most vigorous albums I’ve come across in the past year.

First off, these guys love their breakdowns; a lot, and almost to the point where you get tired of them. While most of them are incredibly heavy and are just fun to listen to, by the end of the album you’ve just heard too many. I know there have been times in the album where I’d wish I was hearing a guitar solo, technical bridge, or just something new. While songs like “Day of Justice” and “There Is No Business to Be Done on a Dead Planet” may have some of the greatest breakdowns I’ve ever come across, others are simply trite and played out.

The times when All Shall Perish really shines are when you can really get a feel for both guitar players. The Price of Existence not only gives the listener a hardcore/metalcore feel, but also a tech-death feel in songs like “Eradication”, where there are incredibly difficult twin guitar parts, and also probably the most tasteful solo on the entire album. Most of the album is loaded with guitar riffs similar to that of the death metal and thrash scene, which will appeal to all of the head bangers out there. “Better Living Through Catastrophe” is a great example, where both guitarists combine all of the genres mentioned above flawlessly into one of the album’s highlights. As far as bass goes, it’s nonexistent for the majority of the album, save for a few moments when you’ll be hit with an interesting tapping line that adds a nice feel to the song. As it is with most modern metal albums, the bass could afford to be turned up a bit. The drums are also one of the most entertaining parts on the album, as they’re extremely fast, unrelenting, and even groovy at times. They fit in nicely with each riff and always provide a solid backing for the endless savagery.

While I love intense and angry music, I do enjoy some somber parts. That way, it allows for the heavy parts to seem that much more abrasive. The problem with this album is that the album is heavy for almost the entire time, except for “Greyson” which was a great addition to add in the middle of the album, giving myself and others time to wind down before this brutal roller coaster continues on its journey. A couple other softer parts would have been nice to hear throughout the album. The vocals were also a set back. They’re indecipherable, and some of the high-pitched shrieks really start to wear on me after a while. I’d like to be able to understand at least some of the lyrics next time.

Overall, I enjoyed this album. The Price of Existence offers plenty to the listener, bringing the worlds of death metal and hardcore together to create a melting pot of pain, brutality, and technical music. “Day of Justice” is a contender for the best metal song of 2006, and several others on the album don’t lag far behind, like "The Last Relapse". Musically, it’s extremely heavy, intricate, and well organized, though there are just too many breakdowns. The vocals are also unclear and hard on the ears. This band is on the right track to becoming great, and this album is worth your time if you’re into either death metal or hardcore.

Thor’s Top 3 from this album:
Day of Justice
Better Living Through Catastrophe
We Hold These Truths



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3.9
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Comments:Add a Comment 
south_of_heaven 11
May 1st 2007


5613 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5

INTENSEEEEEEE







I remember listening to "Days of Justice". It was a cool tune, but I don't really have enough interest to check these guys out. Good review though.



As far *** bass goes, it’s nonexistent for the majority of the album




Metal's bassists now-a-days tend to bore me to death...This Message Edited On 04.30.07

Meelk
May 1st 2007


126 Comments


these guys sound kind of like meshuggah don't they?

HotSalvation
May 1st 2007


258 Comments


just how amazing is the breakdown on no buisness?

Thor
May 1st 2007


10357 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

It gets pretty awesome when the additional guitar melodies are added, but you should check out Day of Justice if you haven't already. That's seriously one of my favorite metal songs ever.

OhMyGandhi
May 1st 2007


101 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

i love this album. the drums and vocals make the band worth listening to IMO. My favs are Wage Slaves and Day Of Justice.

Can the singer do all those vocals live?? cause tha would be one intense live show if he could.

Epilogue
May 1st 2007


1822 Comments


Seriously? *chuckles at cliche joke*

Anyways who do these guys most closely resemble? I wanna check 'em outThis Message Edited On 04.30.07

Epilogue
May 1st 2007


1822 Comments


Hmmmm...mabey then, just mabey.

OhMyGandhi
May 1st 2007


101 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

yea this albums bleeds intensity. All the blast beats, breakdowns, high shreiks, and pig squeals make this cd pretty sweet.

Slaytan
May 1st 2007


1185 Comments


Thor, you sir, are the reason I joined the Sputnik community. Your reviews are so great, they make great things look not so great. But seriously, great review.

jrowa001
May 1st 2007


8752 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

this is a strong album, the musicianship is superb and the vocals are relentless. i agree that some time to relax by having some softer parts wouldve made this a lot better

Cravinov13
May 1st 2007


3854 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Anyone else agree The Last Relapse has the most amazing intro in this style of music???

LifeInABox
May 1st 2007


3709 Comments


i shall have to check this one out

Thor
May 1st 2007


10357 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Thor, you sir, are the reason I joined the Sputnik community. Your reviews are so great, they make great things look not so great. But seriously, great review.


Wow, that comment made my day. Thanks so much!



Anyone else agree The Last Relapse has the most amazing intro in this style of music???


Yeah, I just listened to this song again. I think I'll add it to my highlights list. It even ousts Prisoner of War, which is saying something.

LifeInABox
May 1st 2007


3709 Comments


Oh, Thor i thought you we a "ma'm". Am I mistaken?

Thor
May 1st 2007


10357 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

You thought I was a girl? Haha, nah I'm a dude. But I guess you could be fooled by the name.This Message Edited On 04.30.07

Pluh
May 1st 2007


579 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

This is a sweet cd to listen to... i haven't listened to it that much lately, but still is great... and that album art is pretty wicked.This Message Edited On 04.30.07

kalkal50
May 1st 2007


2386 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

éajdséklfThis Message Edited On 06.29.08

Altmer
May 1st 2007


5711 Comments


I thought Thor was a Norse male god... ?_?

Werny
May 1st 2007


148 Comments


I want to make sex to this CD and have it bare my children. Seriously. Some parts have a very jazzy coolness to them.

And the bass is boring? Did you listen to No Business?

Thor
May 1st 2007


10357 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

And the bass is boring? Did you listen to No Business?




...I did. And I even mentioned it in my review.



As far as bass goes, it’s nonexistent for the majority of the album, save for a few moments when you’ll be hit with an interesting tapping line that adds a nice feel to the song.






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