All That Remains
Overcome

Release Date: 2008 | Tracklist

This was bar none, the biggest disappointment that I've ever listened to. And it isn't because it's the worst album ever written, because it isn't. It's because This Darkened Heart was one of the best Metal albums I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. It's because his screams are epic and his range was almost unmatched, and now he seems to be giving that up for his moderate singing voice. It's because the shredding has been toned down a whole bunch of notches.

Let me just say, I am sick and tired of good, solid metal and hardcore bands go from heavy as hell to overly produced and too singy (IE Eighteen Visions, Atreyu, Destroy the Runner, Thrice). Now, I am not saying I hate singing. In fact, I love it. But in metal? It's becoming just what you do. You have an album or 2 with straight screams, usually a very ballsy band. Then you just gradually get lighter and lighter until you release 18V's self-titled ablum with songs like "Tonightless". We need to keep the nutsack in metal!! And All That Remains just does not deliver on their latest effort.

There are positive moments, like I do like Chiron, and it would have fit in very well on The Fall of Ideals, but come on, a BALLAD?? Really? Don't do that. You aren't Pantera, and you ARE losing credibility and your sense of heaviness with this. But comparing this to This Darkened Heart, they solod in EVERY song, and usually 2 or 3 times. Wheres the ripping solos? There are a few, but they lose their momentum when you kick back in with singing over a not-quite-catchy-enough chorus. And I LOVE his scream. He has the highs that pierce, the mids that carry, and the lows that destroy, but his singing voice just isn't that great. It's OK. And it was nice to use it ocassionally. I even think The Fall of Ideals was too much. Singing isn't needed on EVERY song just because you can. This much singing just doesn't fit the riffs they are over.

The guitar work is also sliding. This darkened heart and the fall of ideals had songs that just grabbed you and threw you in whatever direction it felt like. The Calling is such a powerful intro, as well as And Death in My Arms. But nothing just catches you and makes you want to mosh in your bedroom. The power is gone from their riffs. The solos are dwindling in number. The guitar has taken an official backseat to the vocals. And I'm sorry, Metal is NOT about vocals. It's about guitar, drums, and bass. The vocals are merely an enhancer. But they also make-or-break your song/album. And that is certainly the case with this album.

But like I said, it's not terrible. It's OK. I gave it a 2.5. I just ripped on it a lot because I thought their previous efforts were just SO superior to this one. One major good point is the drummer. The drummer is NASTY and plays with a traditional grip, so it's just great to watch. Don't ask me how the hell he does blast beats like that, but he does it. His kick is always perfect, and the fills are great. I will say that he is about the only one who hasn't toned down his performance on this album.

At least the bassist looks hot in the Chiron video, eh?

Tweet

Recent reviews by this author
August Burns Red Constellations	Norma Jean Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child
Thrice Vheissu	Dustin Kensrue Please Come Home
Attack Attack! Someday Came Suddenly	The Bled Silent Treatment

user ratings (1641)

rate it Awful - 1 Very Poor - 1.5 Poor - 2 Average - 2.5 Good - 3 Great - 3.5 Excellent - 4 Superb - 4.5 Classic - 5

2.8 good

Rank: #0 for 2008