Shadows Fall
The Art Of Balance

THE REVIEW

Killswitch Engage are the kings of metalcore, I have no doubt about that. Behind them there's another very good band, Shadows Fall (which no one else here has reviewed... shame on you!!!). After two practically unnoticed CDs, "The Art Of Balance" is released, and it finally achieves good success.

The music is metalcore, but there are various influences, especially thrash: besides rocking the world, Shadows Fall meticulously craft the more melodic tracks: listen to Thoughts Without Water. The most powerful song on the album is Stepping Outside The Circle, but Destroyer Of Senses is also highly “wrecking”.
Shadows Fall even played a Pink Floyd cover, Welcome To The Machine, making it more metallic, and it was really well done. The title-track is also very good.

I was particularly impressed by the skill of the band's singer, Brian Fair: from insane growls and screams, he switches effortlessly to a cleaner vocal tone. And then, damn, have you seen those dreads he has??? They reach down to the ground... The production is wonderful, making some nuances that the band still has less evident. Moreover, they are absolutely amazing live too (anyone who went to this year’s Flippaut will surely confirm).

I remain convinced that Killswitch Engage are the best in metalcore (and I believe that Brian Fair and company have been somewhat inspired by the makers of “Alive Or Just Breathing”, as well as by Atreyu), but surely Shadows Fall have nothing to envy from the English band, quite the opposite. A must-have album.