Customer Reviews

Overcome

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Let me start out by saying that I am a huge All That Remains fan and I would love nothing more than to just put up a review saying "Totally Awesome CD!!!!! THEY DID IT AGAIN!!!", but that would just be lying to myself and to the people on the fence about this CD.

First a little bit about the last album: As an ATR fan, I loved the amazing progression from This Darkened Heart to The Fall of Ideals. In my opinion, ATR stepped up their game in every facet and put out an amazing metal CD that shines on every front. The drums took a big step forward with the integration of more intricate beats, the solos and guitar riffs shone through and actually enhanced the music instead of just being filler. Finally, the vocals progressed into some of the best metal vocals I have heard in years. Phil displays a whole arsenal of screaming and singing styles that I just couldn't believe. In short, I thought it was a brilliant CD and I couldn't wait for the next release (see below)

The new CD: The bottom line is that it just isn't as unique and solid as the previous releases. I am not going to sit here and rail on ATR for wanting to try something new and put out a few songs with a heavy dose of clean vocals, but it is how it was done that really makes it painful. However this album was recorded, they managed to take away any trace of Phil Labonte in the vocals and just leave it with overproduced clean style vocals and, in my opinion, screams that are a clear step down from Phil's various screaming styles on The Fall of Ideals. Several of the songs just seem sort of "dialed-in" with a generic clean vocal chorus and an OK screaming verse. Also, I keep finding that the screaming parts of the CD are lacking in intensity. It seems that the volume of the vocals during screaming sections is a little low and so these parts lack something.

Don't get me wrong, there are still some great solos, parts that make you go wow, and you can definitely still hear the unique style that makes ATR great. However, these parts are too far between and a loyal ATR fan will find him or herself listening to the whole album and realizing it just isn't up to par with the originality and energy of their previous release. If you love ATR, I would still recommend this CD because it does show glimpses of what makes them a great band. In the end, ATR put out an pretty good metal album that in my opinion is a let down for a group of All That Remains talent and potential considering their previous work.

Im seeing toooo many reviews about Phils vocals when we're missing a VERY IMPORTANT aspect of this band. The instrumentals on this album are just as good as Fall of Ideals and you people are not realizing this. Yes the band is well known for Phils vocals, but do you think they'd be anywhere without the PHENOMINAL drumming of Shannon Lucas? (Though they have jason costa now) Or the playing of Mike and Oli? You guys are putting WAY too much focus on PART of the band, NOT REMEMBERING THAT TOURING TAKES A TOLL ON SOMEONES VOICE. Listen, im a drummer, and i give vocalists all the respect in the world, and pinpionting them on a subpar album and giving them the blame is BS. Sometimes the vocals cant be as intense as past albums. THE CD IS GOOD, AND THATS THAT.

All that remains is most definitely a remarkable band. The field of music they chose to place themselves in is metal, but it is more of a progressive style of metal. This CD is not as brutal as their others, but in reality, the others were not that brutal to begin with. The guitarist are pure finess, not power chord, riff chugging, no tallent musicians. If your looking for something truly heavy, this will not be your cup of tea. I loved this CD, personally. It sounds to me like they have stuck with their style and progressed upon it. Heavy, melodic choruses, catchy tunes you cant help but sing along with, solos that blow your mind, unique vocal styling, unique song writing, I could go on. I dont think they have changed much throughout their career. I recommend it to anyone who really likes the band. KSE as well.

It's been said already, but I just don't know what happened here. The Fall of Ideals was a great metalcore album - strong songs with powerful and melodic choruses. Overcome has melodic songs with a few screams here and there in the background, they just went too far in a different direction. There are still a few songs that are decent listening, like "Two Weeks" or "Chiron", but there's just nothing really compelling you into a second listen. Nope, I'd recommend getting The Fall of Ideals instead, and hope their next outing will be stronger.

All That Remains are a band known for being a metalcore band with guitar work that excels what the genre would usually offer. They also succeeded in not being too monotone throughout each release. With "The Fall of Ideals", the band were able to experiment and succeed, despite a few setbacks (mostly vocals). "Overcome" shows that the band definitely don't write the same album multiple times, but it is also the band's weakest work to date.

The instrumental work is still great, with some amazing solos. This alone doesn't prevent it from being a mixed bag. "Before The Damned" is a promising start, with some Testament-style vocals performed by Phil Labonte. However, by "Two Weeks", things start to dwindle with the use of flat clean vocal work that just ruins the mood. It's not terrible, but if you're familiar with albums like This Darkened Heart and even The Fall of Ideals, it pales in comparison.

The production also doesn't have that certain edge to it, mostly because instead of recruiting Adam Dutkiewicz, they recruit Jason Suecof. The feel seems to be less of a heavy metal style that the group had before, and it seems more catchy and mainstream oriented. This will definitely disappoint fans of the group's previous works.

"Overcome" is not a bad record, but it's not that good either. The musicianship is still there, but the overall feel that the band had before seems to have vanished. Approach with caution.

I really cant believe that so many people hate on this album, cause this is probably my fave one from ATR. Everything on it is great; the singing, screaming, solos, drums, lyrics, EVERYTHING! You can really feel the emotion in it. There are a lot more clean vocals than on their older albums, and I guess thats what turned people away from it, but that doesnt necessarily mean its bad. I love this album, and I think everyone should give it a shot. It may grow on ya or who knows, maybe youll end up loving it at first listen like I did. Either way, I give it a 10/10.

This is the the first "All That Remains" album I've purchased, and I'm very happy I did so! The music presented here is hardcore and riffy whilst still carrying some awesome melodies and progressions. Interestingly enough, my attention was most caught by the frequent key changes in the latter half of the album... Very ear catching! (Reminds me of some of Demon Hunter's more "ballad-ish" work."

All in all, I REALLY enjoyed this album. I'm not a fan boy, hence this is a pretty non-sensational review... but I am quickly becoming a fan of "ATR"s sound and melodic progressions.

Oh, and on a side note, fans of metal will be thrilled with the guitar solos on this album that pretty much replace the standard "breakdown."

Many people had a fear after "The Fall of Ideals" that this band would not be able to top that record. Although this is still a solid outing by All That Remains, I agree with the statement that it couldn't out due its predecessor. They seemed to have gone into the dreaded wanting to be mainstream sound to gain more attention. Although it isn't a bad thing to do that, I don't feel like this is the album to get them more attention. There aren't enough strong tracks on this one as there were on "The Fall of Ideals". "Two Weeks" is one of their best songs written in my opinion. It is the first song where singer Phil Labonte sings from beginning to end with no screaming. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it either because this song shows that he has the voice to be able to sing beautifully and not be known as a screamer. The chorus is one of those that will get stuck in your head and you won't care if you can't get it out of your head. The opener "Before the Damned" has a very heavy scream from Phil and kicks into a poppy catchy chorus that almost sounded a little emoish but it will grow on you and after giving it a couple listens it won't sound emo, especially considering this band is far from emo. Another stand out in terms of Phil's melodic voice is "Forever In Your Hands". It has a mixture of singing and screaming in the verses and has another one of those memorable melodic choruses. The album's heaviest track is without question "Relinquish". This track may leave people thinking where was this sound in the rest of the record? Very strong song, but there isn't enough of it in the record. The closer is an interesting one being a cover of Nevermore's "Believe In Nothing". I was surprised to see it but wasn't really that disappointed with the outcome of the cover. It sounds almost exact to the original but also serves as a stepping stone for Phil's singing. Solid album but comes nowhere near "The Fall of Ideals".

I haven't been listening to these guys very long all, in fact I just dug em up recently. I'm giving it 4 stars because I think it's above average metal with great melody. The other reviewers on this page are long time fans who think this album stinks in comparison with their old stuff. Since I am not a long-time fan I don't really know, their old music may have been much better. But still-I rest my case-this is a sick album!

On the first listen of this record, I had to pick up the cd case several times and remind myself that this was All That Remains. I could've sworn I was listening to As I Lay Dying or It dies today. I do not usually write reviews but was compelled to write this one because of my sheer dissapointment.
What happened? After making arguably THE greatest metalcore record ever, The Fall of Ideals, I had always wondered if it would be possible for ATR to get even better or even match it. Sadly the answer is no, this album is several steps back in the opposite direction. Phil's blood curdling screams and oli and mikes tandem guitar perfection are no more. Overcome has excessive clean vocals which I usually do not mind, but ATR to me were characterized by their tasteful ability to use clean vocals as a compliment to the wide array of screams and growls that were the prominent feature of ATR. Now clean vocals have become the main feature and the synthed sounding drums and whole feel on this record does not have that raw urgencey that Ive come to love on previous efforts. Get Adam D Back!
Now, to say this is a poor metalcore album would be unjust. This album has all the elements of a good performance, its just that ATR have changed their sound to resemble all the hundreds of other generic metalcore bands that all do the same thing and have turned their backs on the elements that made them one of the only unique ones. Although this album still has its moments, some good screams by phil and great guitarwork, its just not the same. Atleast I still have the perfection of Fall of Ideals to satisfy me. If you are new to All that Remains, please buy Fall of Ideals, or an earlier effort. If you like generic metalcore than you will enjoy this album. Lets just hope there is still one more Fall Of Ideals worthy album to come.