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This one I sure didn't like at first - I got the impression of boring and unoriginal riffs mixed with pointless accoustic passages and confusing melodic vocal outbreaks .. boy was I wrong!

Now I love it!

Totally. This album just keeps getting better. Unless something that is FLAWLESS comes out between now and the end of the year, this is the best of the year for me....though that new Angra is spectacular as well.

I'll be honest, I never thought much of Shadows Fall at first. I took them as old school recyclers and overrated musicians. But the more and more I listened to their singles on various comilations the more I realized that they are actually good. Well, I purchased The War Within with high expectations and certainly wasn't disappointed. I never thought I'd see the day where an American band would grasp the technicality and complexion of European melodeath and at the same time add that slightly brutal thrashy approach with the harsh screams. Well, Shadows Fall did it. Hands down, my favorite American metal band. The technicality and passion put forth and obviously heard throughout this album is spectacular and awe-inspiring. The intro kicked ass as well as the rest of the album. If there is one thing I may have disliked about the album was the lsight departure from their ways of digging out that old school thrash sound. But this album is excellent nontheless.

When i first got this album i wasn't all that impressed. I'm not sure why but it just didn't leave a big impression on me. So i left it alone for a while. Then i started to read reviews on how great it was and decided i better listen to it again. After a few listens i realized it was a very good album but i'd give more like a 90.

99/100?!? There's no accounting for taste...

Seriously, for an album to rate that highly, it'd have to be either totally groundbreaking or darn near the finest example, the zenith, of that particular artform. The War Within is rockin' and a step up from their last album, but I don't think Shadows Fall are yet to the point that they are metal gods...

Just seems a little too derivative, take yer metalcore, throw in some Maiden-ish double leads, etc. to rank 99/100. I'd give it something in the 80's; that's just me though. What did the latest Lamb of God album rate? I think they are quite similar in excellence.

it got a 92 i believe.

For the last time, Shadows Fall is NOT metalcore!

agreed ! Shadows Fall is modern american thrash metal... a very few hardcore elements may appear but definitely not enough to classify them metal core !

btw, great album, their best imo, I'll give it 80

There's no denying that metalcore is one of the elements of their style. "What Drives the Weak" and "The Power of I and I" would fit quite nicely on the latest Unearth album, which I believe metalreviews has labelled as metalcore...

My main point was that -- in my opinion -- the album is not groundbreaking or the epitome of it's particular sound. Of course you can't say for sure now, but in 10 or 20 years time, will you still be listening to this album and be amazed at how incredible it is? I mean, 99/100 is like a Paranoid, Back in Black, or Reign in Blood, y'know?

yep, though metalcore is not an influence.
hardcore is an influence on their album, and metal is the basis ----> Metalcore...

I've never been able to get into Shadows Fall; I bought the Art of Balance and I didn't like it, the other day I tried to give it a try once again but I just can't get into them.

Well I can't say for sure but I love this disc. I will be listening to it for a long time. I have listened to this daily since it was released and that doesn't look like it's going to letup anytime soon.

I'd say it's good, but I couldn't figure out what all the hype was about either. The last track kicks ass though, I'll say that.

I am a huge Shadows Fall fan, but I definitely prefer Somber Eyes to the Sky, Of One Blood and The Art of Balance to this. Its a good album, and has some incredibly amazing songs (The Light That Blinds, Act of Contrition, Eternity is Within, The Power of I and I and of course Those Who Cannot Speak) but it also has some pretty bad moments as well (Enlightened by the Cold and part of Stillness, with What Drives the Weak being pretty average as well). Once again, good, but nowhere near the excellence of their first three albums.

I think this album is certainly worth the album of the year rating it got, the only other challenger in my mind (personal taste) was Ashes of the Wake. I'm not sure if it deserved 99/100, as some of you guys have been saying, it really does have to be a pure classic or something totally groundbraking to get rated that high... I don't think this is metal-core either...

On another note I get to see these guys live & I am gonna be backstage in less than a month Bit disapointed that LoG didn't come with them after they toured the US together... Thank god Klipsnot didn't scourge the capital city of this fine country by visiting us even if they are going to Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane, I was a bit suprised not to see Shadow's fall on the line-up for Big Day Out as they will be here only a couple of weeks later and Klipsnot and Hatebreed are both playing there... Oh well hopefully In Flames, LoG & Shadow's Fall will all tour Aus next year, enough of my rambling I'm going to bed!

There is no way shadows fall should have been album of the year. It is a very good album but Iced Earth - The Glorious Burden kicks it's ass.

:roll: You are kiddin' right?

Yes, that's one thing that annoys me about Shadows Fall. They're one of my favourite bands, amazing live, really cool guys to hang out with after a show and I have seen them four times. However, they always, always tour with shitty bands. It really sucks, for everytime I go see them, I can't get into the show until they come on.

No not at all. I know a lot of people don't like it but i think it is a great album.