Thoughts On All That Remains’ For We Are Many

Posted by Chris Harris on August 13, 2010 in New Records, News, Rad, Reviews

Last night, a download link arrived in the old email for All That Remains’ forthcoming LP, For We Are Many, and I knew I had to stop everything I was doing and listen to this record. The quick review of the new disc? It’s all you’d expect from All That Remains, but more evolved, with a tougher overall feel to the abrasiveness of it, and frontman — and all-around great guy — Phil Labonte sounds like a fucking beast.


Slated for release next month, the disc was produced by Killswitch Engage’s own Adam Dutkiewicz. His imprint is obvious on this record; it feels like he really pushed these guys — and gal — to their utter limits, and the result is brilliantly-executed, emotive metalcore that’s got a lot more death influence on it. At least that was my impression.

The album opens with “Now Let Them Tremble,” which is marked by its Pantera-esque riff. Throughout the record, on songs like “Some of the People, All of the Time,” the drums are just…the first thought I had (and I always go with my first thought) is that they are just fucking ultra metal. You can not help but bang your head to the shit they’re laying down.

The Yngwie-like solos on the record are inspiring examples of technical guitar wizardry. Truly amazing and a step up for All That Remains. The bass is fierce and thick-sounding, and the third song even has a vocal section towards the end that sounds as though it was inspired by the harmonies towards the end of Peter Cetera’s “Glory of Love.” Trust me.

Again, Phil sounds like a monster…like Satan’s nephew on a bad day. There’s the Cookie Monster growls and lots of impassioned screams, and he sounds just absolutely sinister, but then, in other sections of these tracks, he croons like an angel — and it even sounds like his clean vocals have become even more melodious. Especially on the album closer, “The Waiting One.”

Some of it, you can tell the band really wanted to step things up and experiment with different sounds. Other songs are All That Remains-by-numbers metalcore. All That Remains have, in short order, gone from just another band in the metalcore scene to surpassing some of the other members of their class, who maybe got too big too fast. This disc will only make All That Remains huge. Killswitch huge. And I’m totally cool with that.

The kids are really going to love this one. That’s my prediction. Yes sir.

Posted in New Records, News, Rad, Reviews | Tagged all of the time, all that remains, for we are many, killswitch engage, new album, now let them tremble, Pantera, peter cetera, phil labonte, some of the people | 5 Comments