All That Remains - The Fall of Ideals (2006)^{Release ID: 5437}

After the first 2 albums have a melodeath sound with small evolving elements of metalcore, All That Remains decided to go fully metalcore with their third album The Fall of Ideals, released in 2006. This is honestly a little similar to Shadows Fall's move to thrash metalcore on their third album The Art of Balance, except All That Remains never really played thrash. The new sound of metalcore is highly enjoyable and fits very well with the band, and that caused the band to reach a higher peak of fame and begin departing from their old melodeath sound. This is the kind of style All That Remains fans really want!

I said this before but I'm currently a huge fan of metalcore. I mean, sure they sound generic, unoriginal, and too much like one another. But some bands, like All That Remains, really mix up the genre with elements from other well-fitting metal genres, like in this album where it's mostly metalcore with some melodeath twists. That's also what other metalcore bands like God Forbid and Bleeding Through are doing, which is why I like them as well. Some people might think this is another bland generic metalcore album, but hey, that's their own opinion. I, among other people, love this album and consider it a metal gem. A metal onyx!

Let's start this album with a scream, literally! "This Calling" starts with a high menacing metalcore but close to black metal scream from Phil Labonte over chugging metalcore riffs. After a killer verse, the catchy chorus comes in, then another scream to continue the same path. After the second chorus, the duel guitars keep playing a melodic riff until a breakdown with Labonte's screaming. And finally, a pretty short guitar solo and the final chorus before the closing outro. "Not Alone" starts off with melodeath/metalcore riffs along with Labonte's screaming verse, then another catchy chorus with clean singing. Then it repeats the same formula in a structure similar to the previous track. After the second chorus, both guitarists play an impressive In Flames inspired solo. After some more chugging riffs and drums, the chorus plays one more time along with more duel guitars. "It Dwells in Me", again begins with melodic riffs and simple drum riffs together with Labonte's screams, followed by yet another catchy chorus. Guitars play some melodeath riffs, then another well-played but not too complex solo. After that, there's a metalcore breakdown with Labonte screaming. Then finally, the final chorus plays and the song ends with some more death growls and metalcore vocals.

"We Stand" starts off with melodeath riffs, then a verse with some more of Labonte's screaming/shouting vocals. Then another catchy chorus comes in. There's a bit of spoken word here that's slightly better. After the second chorus, there's a melodeath breakdown, followed by the most technical solo so far. Then after another breakdown and another chorus, the song ends. "Whispers (I Hear You)" is a slightly different track with an acoustic intro before blasting into a metalcore/melodeath verse. Then there's probably my favorite chorus in the album with amazing clean vocals. The second chorus leads into a breakdown and a solo, before the song's last repeat. "The Weak Willed" is totally different because it is almost a pure melodeath over 4-minute song that flashbacks to the band's first album Behind Silence and Solitude. Starting off with death metal style riffs and drumming, Phil Labonte delivers some menacing death growls and high screams. The chorus has just metalcore screams/shouts. Some melodic riffs appear than it's back to the death metal riffs and drumming. Then the song ends with Labonte's clean vocals and a slow soft outro.

"Six" should've been the sixth track of the album because of its name, but that doesn't matter too much. It's another death metal influenced song starting off with lightning fast melodeath riffs and blast beats. Then the repetitive metalcore formula returns with breakdowns and clean and shouting vocals. Then in the middle, the song slows down with melodic riffs, a simple drum beat, and a short solo, before the song repeats one more time. The next track "Becoming the Catalyst" starts with a death growl, fast melodeath riffs, and a simple drum beat. Still the same path as the first few songs (fast riffs and drumming, catchy chorus and solos, etc.). "The Air That I Breathe" is a very recognizable track that once again breaks the formula with a lot of different things, including the key signature being B minor instead of D and/or G, and a swift solo in the intro. Other than that, the riffs are still slightly the same but the lead melodies are more harmonic. The furious last two tracks, "Empty Inside" and "Indictment" has some drumming switch from ultra-fast to slower and vice versa with some change in tempo, plus some (quoted from the lyrics of "Empty Inside") "six-string slaughter!!"

All in all, this is a great album, one of the best albums by All That Remains! Call it generic if you want, but this is almost a perfect metalcore album. It's probably one of the best, most groundbreaking albums in metalcore. But in the entire heavy metal world? Not so much, but it's very enjoyable to any metal fan, especially fans of metalcore and/or melodic death metal. You will certainly enjoy it!

Favorites: "This Calling", "Not Alone", "We Stand", "The Weak Willed", "Six", "The Air That I Breathe"