Customer Reviews

Retribution

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Since releasing Threads of Life in 2007, Shadows Fall parted ways with Atlantic Records and struck out on their own, forming Everblack Industries. Opting out of their major label deal and creating their own recording business seems like a smart move, especially considering changes in the music industry and the lack of support the band was receiving from Atlantic. Now free of major label influence, Shadows Fall has released what is easily their best album to date - Retribution.

The album has an epic-like feel and every track is truly amazing! "My Demise" , "War", and "A Public Execution" clearly show a return to the ferocity and aggression that was most evident on the bands earliest records, while "Still I Rise", Taste of Fear", and "Picture Perfect" are examples of powerful tracks that will appeal to a mainstream audience and loyal metal fans alike. The immense talent of each of the band members is on display throughout the record, as one would expect from Shadows Fall. The deluxe edition includes three very solid bonus tracks, the standout being the band's impressive cover of "Bark at the Moon".

Shadows Fall has experienced great success over the years including praise from critics, high-profile tours, television appearances, grammy nominations, etc. Retribution has the potential to take the band to an even higher level of success (and it should). This album is a future classic and a must buy for all fans of hard rock and metal music!

Shadows Fall's last release, "Threads Of Life," was good, but far too polished and pretty for a metal band...and that's probably why it was the band's one and only release for Atlantic Records. Lesser groups might have imploded under the circumstances, but Shadows Fall seems to have taken to heart the old saying, "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." They've started their own label, and on this ferocious new release, sound like a band renewed and in charge of their own destiny. Shadows Fall knows who they are and what they do, and they do it very, very well.

Back in the familiar and capable hands of the producer known as Zeuss, Shadows Fall has created a record that recalls the best moments of "The Art Of Balance" and "The War Within," but also showcases a band of gifted musicians who continue to grow as songwriters. They wear their influences (particularly thrash and eighties metal) on their sleeves, but they also have a current edge and the ability to be both brutal ("War," "Public Execution") and beautiful ("The Path To Imminent Ruin"), sometimes in the same song ("My Demise," "Dead And Gone").

Frontman Brian Fair still sounds like he gargles with broken glass in battery acid on songs like "War" and "Embrace Annihilation," but his ability to actually sing and not just scream continues to improve on "Retribution." To record vocals, the band tapped "Elvis" Baskette, a producer better known for his work with more mainstream bands like Incubus and Chevelle. This time, it works. On tracks like "Still I Rise" and the acoustic-laced "Picture Perfect," (an almost-power ballad with a chorus that could trigger hair-metal flashbacks) Baskette nicely blends Fair's abrasive baritone with the clean tenors of guitarists and backup vocalists Matt Bachand (who is also capable of contributing the occasional death-metal growl) and Jon Donais (whose solos on this record are amazing.)

Lyrically, Fair explores the self-determination themes and philosophies that have long been his mainstays on tracks like "War" and "Still I Rise," but he also shows some flashes of temper this time, calling out enemies and critics on the furious "Public Execution" (A great song to blast when you've had a really bad day!) and decrying the culture of victimhood on "King Of Nothing," which features guest vocals from Lamb Of God's Randy Blythe. Both of the latter songs are also laden with F-bombs, something not heard on past Shadows Fall efforts; the sign of a band with an axe to grind? Perhaps. But from the sound of "Retribution," these guys need to get pissed off more often.

The deluxe edition of "Retribution" includes three bonus tracks, all cover songs, something Shadows Fall is unusually fond of doing. Their version of Ozzy Osborne's "Bark At The Moon" is almost too faithful to the original. Covers of hardcore acts the Cro-Mags ("Age of Quarrel") and Nuclear Assault ("Critical Mass") are solid and give Fair, who got his start in the hardcore band Overcast, a chance to go back to his roots. The DVD features lessons from drummer Jason Bittner and guitarists Bachand and Donais; these should excite music geeks, but not more casual fans. Of more interest are live performances shot at the Bonnaroo Festival and a show in Long Island; my only problem with these is that there aren't enough of them! Shadows Fall is a formidable live act, and it's about time they did a proper concert DVD.

Often lumped in with other bands in the Massachusetts "metalcore" scene, Shadows Fall shatters that mold with "Retribution" and makes it abundantly clear that, first and foremost, they are a METAL band, and one that stands tall among the standard-bearers of the NWOAHM. Horns up, Shadows Fall!

Shadows Fall had a tough time recently. According to "Guitar World" magazine, their previous effort, "Threads Of Life" sold only 93,000 copies, which was due to poor label support. It certainly wasn't because the CD wasn't good - it's a very good album, so maybe "Retribution" will fare better and draw some more attention to the back catalogue.
The goods are here, too. Shadows possess possibly the best metal lead guitarist out there right now in Jon Donais, a remarkably fluid yet wicked lead guitarist. His licks elevate the riffs to a higher level, and singer Brian Fair alternates between clean soaring vocals and roaring, which helps the music from getting bogged down in cookie monster land. Plus, there are more harmonies to be had on "Retribution", but don't mistake this for wimping out.
The power on this outing is right up with "The Art Of Balance" and "The War Within", and should electrify live concerts. A top-notch band that deserves the headlining status and adoration enjoyed by Lamb Of God and Killswitch Engage. Check 'em out.

I have been a fan of Shadows Fall for years but they almost lost me completely with the direction they were headed with Threads of Life, and I had written them off. But after listening to the album on Myspace I was convinced they are back.

This CD combines their earlier heaviness with the melody they added with 'The War Within' without ever diverting into cheese. Add longer songs and the usual ass kicking guitar work, and I am very happy with this purchase.

Goes to show that bands that fail to hit the big payday sometimes can remember what made them successful in the first place.

Oh, and the reviewer that called this 'grindcore' is misusing the term. This is not Brutal Truth. This is the typical thrash/metalcore hybrid sound that Shadows Fall is known for.

After the vile, stinking pile of crap that was Threads of Life, I was a little wary to pick up this disc. Following the melodic direction of War Within, Threads of Life was a huge disappointment for me. However, all the brutal elements of the early releases has been combined with the melodic nature of the new ones to create a wonderful cd. Each song on the cd is unique and replayable, except maybe the Bob Marley cover "war". For fans of the early releases and haters of Threads of Life, welcome back the resurrected!!

This is there best cd since Art of Balance(my personal favorite) it sounds like it could fit in between that and War within nicely, and as for that dude that gave the one star, there is no reason for them to change who they are and how they play, if you listened to there last Cd, they tried that and failed miserably ... whatever the heck it's called. See i can't remember because it's been sitting in the back of my cd collection since it came out, it was horrible, to commercial and not them.. there we go it just came to me. Threads of Life... that's what happens you get to good, and the big guys in the industry want to pull you in, but with to many catches. you have to play to mainstream america and most of mainstream american music is mtv music and I think we all know that stuff sucks *** . This is who they are and and this kills that last waste of a cd, kudos to Shadows fall for standing firm and playing what they want to play, and not dancing around and playing something that some old fart in a suit wants them to play... So many good songs on this cd, but these are my 3 favorite... forget it, I hate to say this one stands out over that one. we all have our favorites, they are all great songs. and not one bad song on here, and that's what really matters right... just go out and buy this cd and enjoy it. between this and the new megadeth cd, i'm a happy camper, now just waiting to get the new slayer cd...

Wow!! This album is a truly amazing return to form by one of the titans of the thrash/metal resurgence.I would expect nothing less from a band who created such album as "Of One Blood" and "The Art of Balance".Where albums like "Threads of Life" and "War Within" got to be a little repetitive after awhile, Retribution is heavy and brutal while not coming off to formulaic and rocking all the way through.Such tasty thrash delights as "A Public Execution" and "War"(Bob Marley's lyrics in a metal song), Embrace Annihilation will have you punching kittens in the face. It seems as though Johnny Rock(Jon Donias) has really become a more proficient player and sprinkles solos about instead of just having one really big one which I enjoyed. Songs like "My Demise" and "King of Nothing" really show what they can do musically and go beyond the norm of conventional playing.Jason Bittner is all over the place rocking that kit like it ain't no thang and the vocal harmonies really added life to the songs without being overdone. I absolutley love the cover of Bark At the Moon. That was unexpected and awesome!!!!! Get this cd and the new Megadeth Cd "Endgame" together right now on amazon you won't be disappointed unless your a huge indie rock wuss who wears scarves in that case don't bother but everyone else will like it.Five Stars

This is a really good album. Threads of Life was such a throwaway and a disappointment. Even when I go back and appreciate some songs more than I used to, it still seems tepid and emotionless. Retribution is definitely the album Threads wishes it could have been. A lot of heavier stuff is in the Of One Blood and The War Within vein, which is great. A Taste of Fear and Picture Perfect are noble attempts to bring out their inner-Trixter, but it does not translate, though the latter has an awesome solo. The overwhelming highlights of the album are "My Demise", "Still I Rise", "War" "King of Nothing" and "Dead and Gone". Also good are "A Public Execution" and "Embrace Annihilation"

If I had to give each song a cheesy "out of 10" rating:

A Path to Imminent Ruin: 8.5/10
My Demise: 10/10
Still I Rise: 9/10
War: 10/10
King of Nothing: 9/10
The Taste of Fear: 5.5/10
Embrace Annihilation: 8.5/10
Picture Perfect: 6/10
A Public Execution: 7/10
Dead and Gone: 9.5/10

Overall 9+/10

Probably the best SF album so far. Don't get me wrong, SF puts out good music no matter what album it is.

There is no other group in Metal as versatile as SF. Totally brutal and hauntingly beautiful at the same time. They can simultaneously crush your skull and have you singing along with over the top vocal harmonies. This is music for metal fans who can appreciate a mixture of every metal genre. They sound like Metallica, Slayer, Nevermore, Dokken, and a helping of Gothenburg put into a blender and mixed to perfection. If you are used to one dimensional music, you will not like it. If you appreciate dynamic, expertly played HEAVY music, this will blow your mind! SF are what Metallica should sound like after 25 of practice. The best Metal release of '09.