(Generic Title Here)

Title: The Fall Of Ideals
Artist: All That Remains
Genre: Metalcore, Deathcore
Tracks: 11
Runtime: 39 minutes

Initial Appeal:
With the song “Six” appearing on Guitar Hero II, All That Remains has enjoyed significant exposure and success. Initially, I expected the album to be quite technical (Of which it was) due to Oli Herbert (Lead Guitar) being a guitar instructor. I have had several recommendations to pick up the album, and upon finally caving in and doing so, I’m glad I got the album.

Filled within the 11 tracks is pure -core heaven. Great break-downs, great guitar solos, great riffs, and nice, interesting vocals. This album was definetly hyped up to the max, of which it delivered.

I’d give the Initial Appeal a 10/10.

Creativity:
Upon hearing “Six” in Guitar Hero II (Which basically turned me onto ATR), I liked their music. Upon downloading their album, I was quite intrigued by how different each track sounds. For a genre that gets over-done poorly day after day, they provide a new spin and take on it.

I’ll analyze the guitar tracks first. To begin, Oli Herbert and Mike Martin are an amazing duo. Their harmonizing solos and killer riffs provide an amazing feeling of intensity (More on that later) that are mixed perfectly with the other tracks. Each track has a smooth, easy, and complex solo that blends very well with the rest of the song. Overall, their guitar work is quite impressive (With great tone), and I look forward to seeing what else Herbert and Martin do together.

With the guitars done, I’ll go onto the bass tracks. They’re quite hard to hear, which is a shame because Jeanne Sagan really seems to come up with some great bass grooves. However, when you can hear them, she dominates the track very well. They’re clean, crisp, and bright.

Drums; Oh boy, where to begin. The drums are quite aggressive and fast. From 32nd note double bass and nice, jammy grooves, Jason Costa does quite the job in terms of changing things up and making his parts quite complex and fun to listen too. I often find myself playing air drums to his parts. A must learn for any aspiring drummer.

And onto vocals/lyrics. Phil Labonte is a classically trained vocalist (By none other than the Queen of Scream, Melissa Crosse) who just couldn’t find the right act. After several stints with other major bands, he finally settled into Massachusetts-based All That Remains. His voice varies from harsh growls and guttural vocals to clean singing and piercing screams. Overall, his voice adds an edge to the music previously unknown. I often find myself shivering after hearing a great passage in a song.

Labonte’s lyrics are very creative in terms of not sticking to the “Emo” stereotype, and often have to do with self-empowerment or dreams. If I had to guess, they’re inspired personally by his experiences, which adds to the overall personality of the album. In a rather short summary, each song seems to be a strange metered poem. Quite interesting to read and interpret, if you’re into that.

Overall, the creativity gets a 10/10. The tracks are mixed and mastered wonderfully, with each new song providing a new journey to an emotional mecca. Great tone, great drumming, great vocals, and great lyrics all lend to the powerful 10 this album gets in my book. A must for those seeking something new.

Re-playability:
So, with me gushing over this band’s talent enough, let’s analyze the music for a moment. I feel this album is really geared towards musicians more than just listeners. The solos may seem boring to those who don’t comprehend the talent and dedication it takes to create such a complex arrangement. Because of the above stated fact, I’m docking points off the re-playability. Some people just don’t like guitar/drum solos (As crazy as that sounds).

I’d give the re-playability factor a 8.5/10. Instrument solos dominate large portions of the album, and to those who like vocals/lyrics, it may not interest them as much.

Emotional Value:
From lyrics that suggest some hidden meaning underneath the inspirational messages, to guitar solos that have such angst and aggression, one would have to be dead inside not to pick up on the emotion poured into this album. Each track easily paints a picture in my mind of an event happening, which I love in albums.

With that being said, if growling and screaming isn’t your thing, then you might not feel the anger that Labonte and his crew try to put forth. I suppose it’s all relative to what your tastes really are.

I give the emotional value of this album a 6.5/10. To some, they can convey a feeling of hatred against the world, or insecurity amongst themselves, but to others, they might just be another pissed off group of adults.

Album Art/Video:
The cover art depicts a person smearing their blood onto a stone wall, which seems rather cliche, and, in my opinion, fails to portray “The fall of ideals”. Perhaps they just wanted something generic for the cover, or maybe I’m just missing some subtle detail.

Overall, I’d give the cover art a 2.5/10. It doesn’t portray any real meaning other than “looking cool”. However, it is a little appealing on the eyes, so that’s its saving factor.

Overall:
This album is well put together in my opinion. The tracks are tight and clean, and they make you want more. I would recommend this album to anyone interested in “heavier” music. Not much more to say than that. Definetly a must for musicians to listen to though.

Overall, I’d recommend buying this album if you play an instrument, or are into the -core scene. 8/10. Great songs, great work, but the album art bothers me a lot for some reason, and the fact that it’s a rather short album makes me hesitant to spend the money required for buying it.