Still Remains - Of Love and Lunacy (2005)Release ID: 16857
Still Remains is still remaining one of the few proper metalcore beasts of bands. The metalcore scene has been trapped in the repetitive invasion of emo bands that soil the genre. Of Love And Lunacy is one of those few incomparable metalcore releases, despite a few small similarities. This ain't the whiny sh*t-core scene, so Design the Skyline fans should leave this territory and design their own skyline!
Of Love and Lunacy contains a metal frenzy of intelligence with doses of hardcore added in an amount that people can respect, plus some interesting atmospheric sounds, all in a greater metalcore work of art than Converge. The vocals and instrumentation are always interesting, often brilliant, and sometimes progressive.
Starting off the album is "To Live and Die by Fire", beginning with drumming and bad-a** guitar riffing, complemented by interesting background keyboards. The lyrics are simplistic yet offer complexity in the vocals, which are in a frenzy of hardcore death growling. With all that, I thought to myself, "Wow... Now that's metalcore!" Next song "The Worst Is Yet To Come" is another one of the best yet to come with epic clean choruses that make the song storm across heaven. The typical verse-chorus structure is mixed around into something more exciting. "In Place of Hope" starts with drumming and riffing followed by a long "FAREWELL!!!!" scream with a cool pulsating effect. "White Walls" isn't as epic as Between the Buried and Me's "White Walls", but it has special leads and a great chorus that still makes this song an album highlight.
Another notable song is "Bliss", written in a careful progressive mix of Shadows Fall and Nightrage. The breakdowns never annoy or bore you, equally blending with the rest of the content. "Cherished" is a catchy song about "being only human" and "waiting for something more". It's like a cry for God for human perfection. "With Everything You Have" is just a piano interlude. "Kelsey" is I assume to be about a girl named Kelsey trying to break free from addiction and learn from mistakes. The lyrics treat the Bible like a gun, ordering to point the gun and pull the trigger so that "I'll soak it all in".
"Recovery" once again has the killer Shadows Fall/Nightrage blend and epic clean chorus in a more over the top fashion, complete with corny lyrics and dramatic keyboards. "I Can Revive Him with My Own Hands" is personally the absolute album highlight with all the album's flavor. It has a serious guitar riff and sick metaphorical growled lyrics. The lyrics are far more interesting than in that Killswitch Engage album I listened to, Alive or Just Breathing, making that album sound kid-friendly in comparison. The guitars keep your attention running. Brilliant drumming and mature metalcore vocals continue on as lyrics continue shivering down my spine with serious emotion. Hardcore growls really end the song in a killer band ("I can revive him with my own two hands!!"). "Stare and Wonder" is another song worth good listening. "Blossom, the Witch" starts with techno effects before unleashing more heaviness. It has everything; drums, bass, singing, screaming, growling, squealing, guitars, and time changes. Amazing!
Of Love and Lunacy is an album that has intense emotion, caustically great metal, and brilliant musicianship. The songs flow from one another and are never isolated. They all have the album's original flavor, but it's the uniqueness that makes each song different while still related, emphasizing the album's artistic luminosity. The riff-craft is all set in perfectly timed drumming and great keyboard synth moments. The clean vocals are as memorable and mesmerizing as the growls. I would certainly recommend Of Love and Lunacy for anyone looking for interesting metalcore brilliance. This band still remains!
Favorites: "To Live and Die by Fire", "The Worst Is Yet To Come", "White Walls", "Bliss", "I Can Revive Him with My Own Hands", "Blossom, the Witch"
