shadows fall retribution

Released: 14 September 2009 Label: Spinefarm

Shadows Fall have always had a mishmash of musical styles and Retribution comes as no exception. There are elements of Thrash, Melodic Death and Metalcore to name but a few types that come across

This album quite often follows the formula of ‘fast bit’ followed by ‘nice melodic singing bit’, which many other bands have adopted these days. The fast bits are really quite exciting and sound at times quite a bit like The Haunted, back in their early days, for example the track War and is also the stand out track of the album!

Alas, some of the ‘singing bits’ on other tracks don’t really pack the emotional punch they are trying to achieve and take more away than add anything to Retribution. It is just quite a contrast to the harder and faster parts which sound technically brilliant whereas the ‘nicer’ bits don’t seem to blend in very well. Plus, it just doesn’t seem right tunefully singing Welcome to the Apocalypse!

It is definitely an album of contrasts but unfortunately it isn’t so much a case of opposites attract in this case which is a shame as there are plenty of really great sections sandwiched between the rest.

by Claudia Glazzard