All That Remains "A War You Cannot Win" Album Review — 5 out of 5 stars

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 09:27:28

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All That Remains step up their game big time on A War You Cannot Win.

In fact, the Massachusetts outfit delivers its magnum opus thus far on album number six. A War You Cannot Win delicately injects massive melodies and guttural grooves into technical thrash destruction on par with the genre's classics. The band's sound has always been about balancing Philip Labonte's soaring delivery with an impressive instrumental intricacy. However, that balance comes through louder and clearer than ever this time around.

Everything kicks into high gear on "Down Through the Ages". Mike Martin and Oli Herbert's fret-melting fireworks snap from tight speed metal into an infectious hook from Labonte. Bassist Jeanne Sagan and drummer Jason Costa comprise one of the tightest rhythm sections in modern heavy music, fueling the charge forward.

"You Can't Fill My Shadow" boasts an anthemic brilliance as Labonte croons, "I want the world to know how spineless and fearful you are". It's chillingly catchy. Meanwhile, "Asking Too Much" and "What If I Was Nothing?" couple irresistible choruses with impenetrable playing. Both tracks have the potential to be major crossover hits, but there's still an element of distinct heaviness.

"Just Moments In Time" pummels potently as does "Sing for Liberty". The collection's final trio happens to also be its best. "Not Fading" sounds simply massive as Labonte's voice shines brighter than ever over the metal beatdown. "Calculating Loneliness" is an acoustic instrumental carried by Herbert's utterly divine mastery. He and Martin are a duo to be reckoned with.

The title track closes out this journey fittingly with one last explosion that's bound to make for a live staple for years to come. Every element has been enhanced here from the vocals to the solos. In essence, it's the perfect hard rock, metal, or whatever-you-want-to-call-it heavy record. A War You Cannot Win sees All That Remains emerge victorious as leaders of the new guard with one of the best albums of 2012.

—Rick Florino
11.02.12

Will you be getting A War You Cannot Win on November 6? What's your favorite All That Remains song?

Get it on iTunes!