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Street Dogs - State of Grace
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Hell yeah! I heard two songs and decided to pick this up and am extremely happy I did, because there isn’t anything noteably bad about this album. Fronted by former Shadows Fall vocalist Phillip Labonte, All That Remains amaze me.

The lead guitar work is awesome and the rhythm guitar is slick as well. I really like the drum work here, but the bass doesn’t really get a large role. I also like the sparingly used clean vocals and acoustic guitar to not only serve as an interlude between songs, but add contrast. But personally all of that, including the solid vocals, are stale in comparison to what the true magic of All That Remains has: The solos. Herbert and Martin rip through around eight solos on the album including double solos on several tracks (“And Death in My Arms,” “The Deepest Gray,” “Vicious Betrayal.”) and all of them kick serious ass. It’s not just that they sound good, it’s that the fit the mood of the music and atmosphere of the lyrics and fit in well; they're not just thrown in there. The solos really kick ass on the first three songs, especially in “Vicious Betrayal.” It’s kind of sad that they used “This Darkened Heart” as their second single as it’s a more metalcore song without a solo and isn’t as good as any of the songs with a solo. The parts between the solos are great, but they lack the power and feeling of the solos and this slightly hurts the songs as you feel like you waiting for the solos, which isn’t a bad thing.

Overall, This Darkened Heart is an amazing album worth any penny you can spend on it.



People who liked this also liked:
Franky Lee - Cutting EdgeNo Trigger - CanyoneerThis Is Hell - SundowningAgainst Me! - As The Eternal CowboyAtreyu - The CurseConverge - Jane DoeKillswitch Engage - Alive Or Just BreathingCrime in Stereo - The Troubled StatesideConverge - You Fail MeThe Receiving End Of Sirens - Between The Heart And The Synapse



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    Posted by Mezzy on 2008-01-22 02:34:11
    My Score:

    I thought this album was fantastic.
    I actually heard this after having been told about then by a good friend of mine and having heard their newer album.
    Still can't stop listening to it

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 22, 2007 at 1:27 PM (EDT)

    Anyone wanna do a count of how many times the writer mentions "solos"? I'm guessing if a solo could somehow become a person, the writer would suck it's dick.

    Posted by hotwaterbrogden on 2006-04-14 21:48:33

    good cd, great solos, excited for the new one.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 3, 2005 at 1:38 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    seemingly decent album. caught them with as i lay dying and they were really good live,, then throwdown came on and the crowd went silent.

    Posted by FAST_ED on 2005-10-04 18:20:57
    My Score:

    This album was a total surprise to me. It defintely rips though. As a huge Shadows Fall fan, I couldn't resist seeing what was up. Personally, I almost like this band better. I'd like to say that it's more "punk rock" sounding (especially the drums), but the punknews royalty will probably cut me at the knees for saying that. (jones? crooks? you out there?) Anyway, a solid purchase indeed. Well worth the money.

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2005-10-04 11:30:57

    Nooooooooooo

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 4, 2005 at 10:31 AM (EDT)

    take away the shitty solos and you have a good album.

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2005-10-03 19:58:01

    Hmmm....

    I randomly submitted all of my reviews including the shitty ones back when I wrote really shitty ones and after I did it and started to work on my reviews, I knew it wouldnt go up unless Brian was posting everything on the queue.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 3, 2005 at 6:40 PM (EDT)

    my impersonation of this review:

    s"olos! blah blah solo blah solos blah blah blah solo."

    Posted by etwiels88 on 2005-10-03 15:30:36

    the artwork sucks dick.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 3, 2005 at 3:08 PM (EDT)

    you submitted a review and you're surprised it got posted? how did you even find the internet?

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2005-10-03 11:22:49

    Dude...

    I wrote a quick review for the hell of it and submitted it for kicks, I never planned for this to be added, and when i saw it, I was li,e "O shit..."

    Ive wrote better reviews and this was a 6 month old one I didnt really go in depth cause I just needed something basic for the review.

    Aight.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 3, 2005 at 1:13 AM (EDT)

    i've been reading these punknews reviews and comments for a good while now and never get the urge to comment, but i have been sparked into action here..
    that was the WORST fucking review i have ever read. I like solos too, but jesus.. write a bit about the songs themselves or the feel of the album...god almighty..
    as a bonus it very poorly written. did you fail grade 7 written expression? how can you submit this and be proud of it? i feel dumber for having read it.. as written below, please kill yourself or refrain from writing any further reviews.

    i actually like this record. labonte is a good vocalist and the music is interesting enough metalcore (which is almost an oxymoron these days). i reckon this band could go places if they take a few chances on their next record

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 2, 2005 at 4:42 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Great cd, shitty review. Sorry dude, that's life.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 2, 2005 at 4:23 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    crazytoledo, please kill yourself.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 2, 2005 at 2:15 PM (EDT)

    Yeah this review is probably 6 months old, tops.

    -Will

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2005-10-02 11:59:35

    OOOOO

    AN old review written by me around the Finch/AILD review days.

    OOOOO

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 2, 2005 at 9:56 AM (EDT)

    Pretty generic metalcore. All Adam D produced albums are way too slick for me to enjoy.

    Posted by Mixhail on 2005-10-02 06:13:18
    My Score:

    One of the top 10 best cds of last year. I am so glad that they decided to use "Tattered On My Sleeve" as their latest video... that song owns.

    O and "Focus Shall Not Fail" is the real best song on the album.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 2, 2005 at 3:33 AM (EDT)

    They toured with Bleeding Through. Nuff said.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 2, 2005 at 2:34 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Fuck you douchebags, this is a great ass album, Phil has one of the best screaming ranges, and seeing them live sealed the deal for me.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 2, 2005 at 1:37 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    dude.....

    Posted by etwiels88 on 2005-10-02 01:34:56

    Never could get into this band, even though all I hear is good things. I don't like the chorus in The Deepest Grey or Darkest Red or whatever

    Posted by inagreendase on 2005-10-02 01:29:03

    That "Deepest Gray" song is sooooo cheesy.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 2, 2005 at 1:26 AM (EDT)

    fuck you this band sucks. listen to shai hulud and darkest hour, idiots.

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