Overcome

I read All That Remains was releasing a new album. So it came out and I got it, went home played it in my radio. The first track "Before The Damned" played and it sounded good until the vocals came on. It didn't sound like Labonte at all. His hardcore rasps and death growls were no were to be found on this song or the entire disc, but instead they sounded modified by production equipment and his clean singing sounded way more commercialized then the last disc. I thought with the lack of intensity, though catchy "The Fall of Ideals", it would have signaled to them to step up their game. They chose to ignore the underground metal appeal, but instead they chose to chase the money and get more mainstream appeal.

Musically there is good and bad things, mostly bad. First off the vocals, as I mentioned before, they don't sound like they did on other releases, the screaming sounds strained and programmed by equipment, unlike the past releases. The drums have no variation except for keeping the rhythm and the bass is still inaudible just like in, "The Fall Of Ideals". Songs like "Do Not Obey" and the Nevermore cover of "Believe In Nothing" fail greatly in holding your attention. "Two Weeks" and "Forever In Your Hands" are the biggest mainstream offenders here, even though "Forever In Your Hands" has a sweet solo near the end.

Now for the good things, not many but they are crucial points in keeping my and your attention. Guitar solos and riffs show that the members have improved, the solos show technicality in them if these were not included in the mix I would have scored it way lower. "Before The Damned a great opener to the disk, opening with crazy drums and a some what technical guitar riff, midway “A Song For The Hopeless is unique opening with acoustic guitar, a mini solo and clean singing, then it smacks you with aggressive bass kick and screaming. Also still showing promise of All That Remains signature sound are the back to back tracks "Relinquish" maintaining a heavier sound, sick solos and void of clean vocals. Then "Overcome" keeping a catchy but heavy and technical.

In conclusion this album is only for collectors and mainstream metalcore fans (ex. Bullet For My Valentine, Killswitch Engage, and Atreyu. Hopefully the next ATR album will be back to normal and this was just a joke.