ALBUM WORSHIP // All That Remains - The Fall Of Ideals

Back when metal started to really become popular, we had the big four. Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer. There was always a band that was skimmed over, a band that I always thought should have made them the big five, and that band was Testament. They did everything the four big guns were doing, but with their own identity, and they did it well. They deserved it in my opinion. In more modern metal, I feel like metalcore also had a big four. Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying, Unearth and Shadows Fall. And I feel that the band missing from that is All That Remains. And that is mainly based on the strength of The Fall Of Ideals. In my opinion it's one of the most perfect albums from that era of metalcore, setting a very high standard from albums that followed it in the genre, and setting All That Remains apart from the pack as a band that needed your attention.

Opener "This Calling" throws you straight into the oncoming storm at breakneck pace, with thundering kick drums and snares ringing out over the melodic but heavy riffing. The riffing never holds back, dipping its toes in crushingly heavy sections as well as tearing through soaring and melodically complex leads. Phil Labonte (vocals) also shows off his chops here, demonstrating his control of his vocals with a range of different pitches of screaming, and showing off his vocal range with memorable and hook laden cleans. It acts as the perfect appetiser for what's to come. "Not Alone" features more of the same, starting with an intricate guitar harmony before erupting into a choppy guitar riff sat behind the robotic precision of drummer Shannon Lucas. Labonte uses clever vocal phrasing during the verses, matching the rhythms of the choppy guitar pattern which instantly makes it sound catchy. "We Stand" and Guitar Hero anthem "Six" feature more perfect blends of melody and heaviness, the latter showcasing exactly how to play around with dynamics and build suspense in metal. Roughly halfway through the track, the music completely strips back to a beautiful clean section, gradually introducing an octave guitar to the mix. Slowly edging forwards, it explodes into the full band, blazing through solos and then finding it's resolve in the form of returning to the chorus.

There are some much darker shades on this album, especially noticeable on tracks like "Become The Catalyst". Labonte kicks off the track with a long held out low vocal, immediately setting the tone for the 3 minutes that are about to follow. The riffs are all fast and evil sounding, a dark and winding road through a melodically chaotic scenery; without doubt the heaviest on the album. Closer "Indictment" is like a summary of everything you've heard up to this point, slowly moving through both the heavy and light elements of the album complete with brutal vocals, decorative guitar parts, soaring harmonies, crushing breakdowns and enormous walls of chords. The highlight for me is "Whispers (I Hear Your)", an expertly structured slice of riffage and melody. The riffs all progress and develop in the right places, continuously grabbing your attention throughout. The chorus vocals are so catchy too; they're instantly lovable and they sit with the rest of the track perfectly. It's essentially structured like a pop song, repeating certain sections in all the right places, adding a sense of familiarity throughout and ultimately making it memorable. The entire album is structured that way, really, which is probably why I think it's so good. Because it's so memorable. The album is everything you could want from a metalcore album and more. If you've got to the end of the album and you aren't hooked and wanting to listen all over again, you've been listening to the wrong album. This is absolute gold.

The album is, quite simply, a masterclass in metalcore. It contains everything that is good about the genre, and it's delivered with precision, feel and aggression in all the right places and in all the right doses. If you're a fan of the genre and you haven't indulged in this album, you absolutely need to. This sits right up at the top of the essential albums list alongside The End Of Heartache, An Ocean Between Us, The War Within and The Oncoming Storm. It might even be one of the best metalcore albums of all time. They're still going to this day, still releasing solid album after solid album. If you haven't indulged yet, make sure you do. They were pioneers of the genre when this album was first released back in 2006, and they still are today. 

D.S

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