Album Review: Shadows Fall - Fire From The Sky

After hitting home runs a decade ago, things somehow went a bit awry for Massachusetts metal mainstays Shadows Fall. Just as a major commercial breakthrough appeared nigh, unsuccessful major label flirtations and patchy albums stalled the dreadlocked dashers' momentum.

To dub this a “return to form” would be overly simplistic and not completely accurate. There are no real surprises, for one. It is however the most energized they've sounded since 2004's The War Within. Upping the urgency (see shred-fest Divide And Conquer) without sacrificing accessibility captures what made the band so likeable initially. Their foundations are still in fusing traditional metal (Iron Maiden), classic thrash, Gothenburg-isms (In Flames) and American hardcore and tossing it into one giant heavy music melting pot. After missing the mark the past few years, they've located the art of balance again. The Metallica-infused Save Your Soul, Blind Faith and The Unknown are injected with their strongest hooks in some time. Arpeggio-flaunting guitarists Matt Bachand and Jonathan Donais can likely read each other's minds by now, but also offer vital counterpoints elsewhere. As abrasive as his hoarse bark is, Brian Fair's limitations have always been most apparent during melodic choruses and lightening his load helps, given the greater emphasis on clean singing. He effectively harmonizes with Bachand during Nothing Remains, while both axemen's death growls are cleverly used sparingly.

Fire… is the first Shadows Fall record produced by Killswitch Engage nutter Adam Dutkiewicz since the band's debut. Perhaps he's lit a fire under them, or just being a long-time friend/fellow Mass-hole, he understands the band's sonic requirements better than anyone. Although hopes of hitting the big leagues have largely faded, at least they're motivated again.