All Shall Fall

Immortal | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 6, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nuclear Blast Americ
• ASIN: B002HVEUV0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,231 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2009 album from the Norwegian Black Metal heads, one of the most important bands of the genre. For nearly two decades, Immortal have been creating unique, skull-scraping Black Metal, always remaining one step ahead of everyone else. The band has finally found a stable line up with Abbath on guitars/vocals, Horgh on drums, Apollyon on bass and Demonaz still doing the lyrics.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sure to satisfy the cravings of any fan that began salivating at news of the band's return., December 14, 2009

By 

The NewReview (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All Shall Fall (Audio CD)

Abbath was recently quoted in Decibel saying: "I always knew Immortal would be back, but I was waiting for the right time to strike." Well, he could have fooled me! 2002's Sons of Northern Darkness seemed like the perfect career bookend album. In a time when the integrity of the black metal scene was in question, that record put a stamp on the genre, in effect saying: "This is how you do this." Turns out, it was simply a condensed dose of what Immortal does best, and it did a great job of keeping the fans faithful through the band's lengthy hiatus.

So after all this time, does Immortal's new offering live up to the anticipation, the hype, and the hopes caused by this legendary band resurrecting itself?

In most ways, it does. Every element from the Immortal catalogue is present on All Shall Fall: the frenzied and chaotic blasting, the melodic riffing, the unique icy tones, and the overall feeling of apocalyptic resignation in the face of nature's wrath. This raw material is molded into songs that, while not as hard hitting as those on the last two albums, immediately carry the listener over frozen landscapes, up bitter mountains, and into heart-chilling battles to the death. Given all this, one might ask what more anyone could want from an Immortal album? The answer is, nothing really. In this day and age music that truly allows the mundane to be left behind should be treasured. All Shall Fall stands tall in the sea of recent metal releases as an album that does exactly that.

Still... what took so damn long? Seven years is a long time to wait, and although All Shall Fall is an amazing record, it doesn't quite reinvent the genre or shatter the relevance of the band's past efforts. Abbath's "I" project from 2006 contained enough Immortal elements for one to wonder why it wasn't simply blackened up and released under the better-known moniker of his main band. In parallel, the writing on All Shall Fall clearly reflects some carry-over from the "I" project (such as the main riff from track 2, The Rise of Darkness).

Marketing slip-up as that may be, All Shall Fall is sure to satisfy the cravings of any fan that began salivating at news of the band's return. In an age of faux-extremes, Immortal remain true to themselves no matter what, and in return, their fans remain true to them.

OUR RATING
(4.5/5)

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's just okay, March 26, 2010

By 

Balberith "Black Metal Enthusiast" (FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All Shall Fall (Audio CD)

In response to another review, I felt that this album was not worth the wait. Six years for this? I listened to it a few times, but could never figure out what exactly it was that I didn't like about this album. But if I had to sum it up in one word, it would be: slow. I myself am a huge Immortal fan. I have purchased (not downloaded) every Immortal album from Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism to this one. This album reminds me a lot of Abbath's other project 'I'. I didn't really like that album. Wasn't into the whole catchy riffs with an almost sing song vox on some songs. Those two elements show themselves on this album, when they have never been present on any other Immortal cd, including Sons of Northern Darkness, which I find to be the easiest on the ears besides ASF. Tyrants was the weakest track on SoND to me, and this whole new album reminds me of Tyrants. I'm just bummed that Immortal didn't make their return as the brutally fast, self-titled 'holocaust metal' that they began with.

On a second note, Hordes To War is probably one of my favorite tracks of all time. That track alone makes this cd. Norden on Fire is another one that I like too, however it is much slower. Basically, the album to me sounds like all b-sides from SoND, mixed with I.

I never thought I'd write a bad review about Immortal, but here I am. It saddens me, but I don't want to be one of those guys that give this album great marks just because of who the band is. If you're looking for another Pure Holocaust, Battles in the North, or Blizzard Beasts...I don't know what to tell you. But if you dig on the 'I' sound and are a big fan of the track Tyrants, then I guess this album is for you.

But let me just say that the new Burzum album "Belus" is unbelievably amazing ;)

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The masters are back!, October 20, 2009

By 

Deimos "." (Alberta) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: All Shall Fall (Audio CD)

This is an awesome album and what black metal/Immortal is all about. Thundering riffs, lightning fast pounding drums and great lyrics/vox. Immortal always makes great music and the lyrics always make you feel like your up top of that vast mountain or glacier or in the war with them. Very great atmosphere. Awesome band, great comeback album! Can't wait to see these guys live!