Record Exchange Boise

Reviews:

After the aesthetic fiasco that was nu metal, it's perhaps unsurprising that both bands and journalists have been chary about labelling the new wave of metal exponents that's emerged in the last few years. Yet you don't need a genre classification to instinctively understand that bands like Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage and Lamb of God have more than just package-tour billings and breakthrough sales figures in common. Though each has its own take on things, all these bands share a love of thrash metal and a willingness to project their killing art beyond the confines of the underground. Of this nascent Big Three, none is more unashamedly thrash than Boston's Shadows Fall. After shifting over 150,000 copies of 2002's The Art of Balance, anticipation is high for this, the band's fourth album. While past SF releases were tinged with a somewhat European-inspired sense of melody, The War Within offers an almost all-American assault. Taking its cues from Metallica's Ride the Lightning and Ozzy's Bark at the Moon as much as from Pantera and Slayer, the album is nothing short of a gleeful sleigh-ride through the past twenty years of metal. Though songs like "What Drives the Weak" or "Inspiration on Demand" might recall past glories, there's also no doubt that they couldn't have been written at any other time than now. Debugged, virus-free and lightning fast, Metal Version 2004.2.0 is now available for download. "After the aesthetic fiasco that was nu metal, it's perhaps unsurprising that both bands and journalists have been chary about labelling the new wave of metal exponents that's emerged in the last few years. Yet you don't need a genre classification to instinctively understand that bands like Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage and Lamb of God have more than just package-tour billings and breakthrough sales figures in common. Though each has its own take on things, all these bands share a love of thrash metal and a willingness to project their killing art beyond the confines of the underground. Of this nascent Big Three, none is more unashamedly thrash than Boston's Shadows Fall. After shifting over 150,000 copies of 2002's The Art of Balance, anticipation is high for this, the band's fourth album. While past SF releases were tinged with a somewhat European-inspired sense of melody, The War Within offers an almost all-American assault. Taking its cues from Metallica's Ride the Lightning and Ozzy's Bark at the Moon as much as from Pantera and Slayer, the album is nothing short of a gleeful sleigh-ride through the past twenty years of metal. Though songs like ""What Drives the Weak"" or ""Inspiration on Demand"" might recall past glories, there's also no doubt that they couldn't have been written at any other time than now. Debugged, virus-free and lightning fast, Metal Version 2004.2.0 is now available for download. "