Search - Shadows Fall :: Retribution (Deluxe Edition)

Outstanding!

D'Ann | AZ | 09/20/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Shadows Fall's last release, "Threads Of Life," was good, but far too polished and pretty for a metal band...and that's probably why it was the band's one and only release for Atlantic Records. Lesser groups might have imploded under the circumstances, but Shadows Fall seems to have taken to heart the old saying, "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." They've started their own label, and on this ferocious new release, sound like a band renewed and in charge of their own destiny. Shadows Fall knows who they are and what they do, and they do it very, very well.



Back in the familiar and capable hands of the producer known as Zeuss, Shadows Fall has created a record that recalls the best moments of "The Art Of Balance" and "The War Within," but also showcases a band of gifted musicians who continue to grow as songwriters. They wear their influences (particularly thrash and eighties metal) on their sleeves, but they also have a current edge and the ability to be both brutal ("War," "Public Execution") and beautiful ("The Path To Imminent Ruin"), sometimes in the same song ("My Demise," "Dead And Gone").



Frontman Brian Fair still sounds like he gargles with broken glass in battery acid on songs like "War" and "Embrace Annihilation," but his ability to actually sing and not just scream continues to improve on "Retribution." To record vocals, the band tapped "Elvis" Baskette, a producer better known for his work with more mainstream bands like Incubus and Chevelle. This time, it works. On tracks like "Still I Rise" and the acoustic-laced "Picture Perfect," (an almost-power ballad with a chorus that could trigger hair-metal flashbacks) Baskette nicely blends Fair's abrasive baritone with the clean tenors of guitarists and backup vocalists Matt Bachand (who is also capable of contributing the occasional death-metal growl) and Jon Donais (whose solos on this record are amazing.)



Lyrically, Fair explores the self-determination themes and philosophies that have long been his mainstays on tracks like "War" and "Still I Rise," but he also shows some flashes of temper this time, calling out enemies and critics on the furious "Public Execution" (A great song to blast when you've had a really bad day!) and decrying the culture of victimhood on "King Of Nothing," which features guest vocals from Lamb Of God's Randy Blythe. Both of the latter songs are also laden with F-bombs, something not heard on past Shadows Fall efforts; the sign of a band with an axe to grind? Perhaps. But from the sound of "Retribution," these guys need to get pissed off more often.



The deluxe edition of "Retribution" includes three bonus tracks, all cover songs, something Shadows Fall is unusually fond of doing. Their version of Ozzy Osborne's "Bark At The Moon" is almost too faithful to the original. Covers of hardcore acts the Cro-Mags ("Age of Quarrel") and Nuclear Assault ("Critical Mass") are solid and give Fair, who got his start in the hardcore band Overcast, a chance to go back to his roots. The DVD features lessons from drummer Jason Bittner and guitarists Bachand and Donais; these should excite music geeks, but not more casual fans. Of more interest are live performances shot at the Bonnaroo Festival and a show in Long Island; my only problem with these is that there aren't enough of them! Shadows Fall is a formidable live act, and it's about time they did a proper concert DVD.



Often lumped in with other bands in the Massachusetts "metalcore" scene, Shadows Fall shatters that mold with "Retribution" and makes it abundantly clear that, first and foremost, they are a METAL band, and one that stands tall among the standard-bearers of the NWOAHM. Horns up, Shadows Fall!

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Shadows Fall is back and better than ever!

music fan | Massachusetts | 09/16/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Since releasing Threads of Life in 2007, Shadows Fall parted ways with Atlantic Records and struck out on their own, forming Everblack Industries. Opting out of their major label deal and creating their own recording business seems like a smart move, especially considering changes in the music industry and the lack of support the band was receiving from Atlantic. Now free of major label influence, Shadows Fall has released what is easily their best album to date - Retribution.



The album has an epic-like feel and every track is truly amazing! "My Demise" , "War", and "A Public Execution" clearly show a return to the ferocity and aggression that was most evident on the bands earliest records, while "Still I Rise", Taste of Fear", and "Picture Perfect" are examples of powerful tracks that will appeal to a mainstream audience and loyal metal fans alike. The immense talent of each of the band members is on display throughout the record, as one would expect from Shadows Fall. The deluxe edition includes three very solid bonus tracks, the standout being the band's impressive cover of "Bark at the Moon".



Shadows Fall has experienced great success over the years including praise from critics, high-profile tours, television appearances, grammy nominations, etc. Retribution has the potential to take the band to an even higher level of success (and it should). This album is a future classic and a must buy for all fans of hard rock and metal music!"

It is about time...

Almost Home | undisclosed | 09/18/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Shadows Fall is a band that for years fell into the category of "Gee, I really want to like this band, but for some reason they just don't seem to have a handle on what they are trying to do." With Retribution, Shadows Fall knows who they are and what they came to do. The came to kick ass and chew bubble gum. Guess what? They are all out of bubble gum. On their latest record, Shadows Fall finally breaks free from the metalcore scene and places them in a new light to which they seem far more accustomed. This is a thrash record, first and foremost. This places among the latest offering from Megadeth (Endgame is awesome, by the way) and I really heard strains of Testament in the mix here. The flow of the album and overall statement is not too different from Wrath, the latest Lamb of God album. Not to say it sounds like LoG, far from it. It just has that mature, self assured quality that the boys in Lamb of God were finally able to convey. In short, by not trying to be the heaviest band on the block, Shadows Fall has landed themselves among the most relevent. I see good things in the future. By the way, in my opinion, the fact that Shads is opening for Five Finger Death Punch is a crime against all that is right in metal. For what it's worth. Five stars."