### Shadows Fall: Retribution

#### 04/11/09 || Euthanatos

Ah, nothing makes hair grow on your ass quite like good old American mallcore. As I’ve been yelling forever, as have some of my GD brethren, it is a dying breed, and we are here to watch its demise, as we saw its early steps. Alas, some bands refuse to let go of their rockstar dream, and whether it be for pure awesomeness of the people involved, desperation or what have you, some of these, like Lamb of God and this Shadows Fall right here, actually release pretty neat albums.

Do not be fooled by the harsh words spewed by our ungodly crew on October’s Audio Autopsy. Them bastards are a bunch of old women, with nothing but complaints on their lips and the tip of their fingers. I, much younger, manlier and sturdier (is that a word?), have much more foresight and wisdom than those hags.

This is the best album Shadows Fall has ever released, you should be aware of that. How do I know? Well, I’ve always thought the band to be complete and utter shit, and somehow, someway, I gave this album a chance, and lo and behold, I thought it was good. Is it the best album ever? No. It’s not even the best American metalcore album ever. But, damn, if it isn’t close! This is only shy of Lamb of God’s best efforts.

Everything here, in the words of our good man Floodhorse, is clinical and the production is spectacular. The guitar work is stone solid, the drumming is tight as a 3 year old’s ass and the vocals are the best Brian whathisname has ever done. It’s clean enough so that you understand what the hell he’s talking about, yet aggressive enough not to make it Killswitch Engage squeaky clean. Range, depth, penis size and all that.

Truthfully, though, what it all comes down to, always, is how good the songs are. I’m sure Shadows Fall had all those charming requisites before, but yet failed to impress me. This time around, it seems they have matured their sound enough and have pried themselves away from the demeaning influences of their peers, like garbage bags Every Time I die, and all those stupid, horrible Massachusetts area bands.

But, it is, undeniably, metalcore, and distinguishably American. This is precisely what you would expect from the band, it just happens to be a lot better than what they usually offer. No, it’s not going to convince the satanic evil crowd, hence the Audio Autopsy reviews. But if you like the whole “American Metal” scene in the first place, even if you think, like me, it’s going a little (A LOT) stale, give this one a chance, because it’s one of the best albums to come out of the whole debacle.

Sure, the genre is going to hell head-on, but it’s good to see these guys screaming their balls off to wake up Satan as they do down.

Rock on, gigantic, unsanitary dreadlocks.

The cover: It’s a… cop badge?

- Information
- Released: 2009
- Label: Everblack Industries
- Website: www.shadowsfall.com
- Band
- Brian Fair: vocals
- Jonathan Donais: guitars
- Matthew Bachand: guitars
- Paul Romanko: bass
- Jason Bittner: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. The Path of Imminent Ruin
- 02. My Demise
- 03. Still I Rise
- 04. War
- 05. King of Nothing
- 06. The Taste of Fear
- 07. Embrace Annihilation
- 08. Picture Perfect
- 09. A Public Execution
- 10. Dead and Gone