By: Anders

Posted: Jun 20, 2006

This new album from Shadows Fall consists of 6 new tracks, from the "The War Within" session though, and is meant as a companion to that very album. A re-recording of an old bonus track, namely 'Deadworld' and a reworked track from the "Art Of Balance" sessions and 3 cover tracks, quite a mix of different music, and on that account I guess it is a bit grand to call this a new full length album.

First we have the 6 tracks, that didn't make it onto "The War Within", and I guess there is a reason for that. The music does of course follow the style from the album. Dynamic modern melodic death/thrash with good grooves and hooks, though the tracks lack the last bite, that thing that makes me go "damn this is good". "The War Within" is a splendid album, with many good tracks, and not a single of these 6 leftover tracks, gets near the 10 songs on the "real" album.

'Deadworld' is the highlight on this album, damn the track is good and shows all that we like in Shadows Fall. The track is dynamic as hell, and has a killer flow, it grabs the listener from the first second, with its good grooves, amazing melodies and hooking vocal lines. 'This Is My Own' might have been reworked, though I still think it suffers from the flaws the band had back at the period the song was written, too many incoherent breaks and weak melodies, and on that account it becomes too boring, especially compared with what the band since has delivered.

The cover tracks are 'December' originally delivered by Only Living Witness, 'Mark Of The Squealer' by Leeway and 'Teasn', Pleasn'' by Dangerous Toys. 3 tracks that have inspired the band to become what they are today. I don't have a personal connection to any of the tracks or bands, though Shadows Fall does deliver them well, especially the 2 last mentioned, they fit the style of the band best. Especially the vocals sound a bit funny during 'December'.

This is a Shadows Fall fan's wet dream, no doubt about that. Hard to get tracks, re-recorded and reworked stuff, some covers and a long lost bonus track for all them not living in Japan. For the rest this album is kinda meaningless, as it far from shows the band at their best. And it does far from demand as many spins as "The War Within", which is the bands magnum opus so far. Though this can make the time go faster, until the next full length from the band surfaces, and like this Century Media will get the last pennies out of the band, even though I am sure that hasn't been a part of the reasoning for releasing this album.

Rating: 5/10

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