Of One Blood

Behind on the last weeks postings thanks to work and sleep. So here's a double shot of goodness from last week. First up is the Boston based Metalcore band Shadows Fall. The band has been around since the mid 90's and are considered one of the bands in the New Wave Of American Heavy Metal (NWOAHM), with bands like God Forbid, Killswitch Engage and Lamb Of God. The band released their debut 'Somber Eyes To The Sky' in 97 with then unknown vocalist Phil Labonte. Phil now fronts All That Remains, who has had some recent success with their releases. The band continued on with new vocalist and former Overcast frontman Brian Fair. Continuing to to tour and open for bands like King Diamond, Death and Cannibal Corpse, Century Media took noticed and in 2000 released 'Of One Blood'. The album was somewhere in between hardcore and melodic death metal. In a sense this was the birth of the Metalcore genre. The band over the years has gained some attention, even so far as being signed to Atlantic Records for a brief time. However this album stands as starting point of their career and is a gem in a field of mediocre crap. Century Media re released and remixed the album in 08 and this is that version. Production wasn't the best on the original and this mix really brings out the songs.

I got into these guys by the fact that they toured with King Diamond back in 2000. I'm always interesting in what bands support the King when he hits the road. This was a peculiar choice just on the fact that they were an unknown band who had just one album under their belts. However the music spoke for itself, the anger coupled with the clean vocal breaks seemed a good fit. Metal at this time was just starting to recover from all that alt/nu metal crap. This album for me is still one of my favorites from them. Their follow up 'The Art Of Balance' was really a better produced and sounding record, but something about the gritty sound here pulled me in. Good album to crank and let loose to.

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