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Rise And Fall

Faith

Written by: PP on 29/05/2012 05:38:37

Even though Rise And Fall have been on the European circuit for three albums and a decade, it wasn't until 2009's "Our Circle Is Vicious" that they had their true breakthrough. It was an uncompromising album that mixed together the southern metalcore of Norma Jean and the utter feedback oriented chaos of The Chariot in one hell of an explosive hardcore/metalcore hybrid cocktail, which felt a little like downing a bottle of tabasco to kill off the fire in your mouth after a spicy oriental meal.

For their fourth album "Faith", Rise And Fall have become perhaps even more muscular and heavier than they were in the past. They've been in the hands of producer Kurt Ballou for three albums now who has slowly been reshaping Rise And Fall into his own image in Converge. So as if sounding like a combo deal between Norma Jean and The Chariot wasn't enough, the band now adds in the sound of Converge for a truly menacing and unforgiving hardcore onslaught that really underlines the 'like a freight train' expression. Just take a listen to "Burning At Both Ends", which sounds like a two-ton truck crashing down from a rocky mountaintop loaded with TNT and nitroglycerin. It really isn't kidding with its relentless power, so you better embrace what's coming early on in order to survive the explosion. Metallic hardcore doesn't come much more, err, metallic than this.

If there's one qualm about the album compared to "Our Circle Is Vicious" though it is that it's almost too muscular and uncompromising in its sound. Where that album had at least a few tangible points where the listener could hang onto and say "well this sounds like Redeemer by Norma Jean a lot and that's awesome", this one is more about primal fury and unstoppable force than about such petty things like memorable songwriting. Don't get me wrong, that exists here as well, but to a much lesser extent than in the past, hence the full grade slash from their previous album.

Download: A Hammer And Nails, Burning At Both Ends
For the fans of: Norma Jean, The Chariot, Converge
Listen: Facebook

Release date 20.03.2012
Deathwish Inc.