Since the dawn of the NWOAHM (new wave of American heavy metal) the world has been gripping its balls and waking up in hospital after violent mosh pits and insane gigs - and that’s just in the record stores! But European metal has also been pushing the boundaries of metal since the early 90’s; bands like children of Bodom and Hammerfall to name but a few. It was only noticed because somebody farted and out popped Nirvana, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and in the extreme case of being injected with laxatives, along came Linken Park, Evanescence and Avril Lavigne.

The fact is this new metal isn’t actually that new, and I personally can’t help but notice the huge similarities in a lot of these bands’ albums, from Unearth to Chimaira to Killswitch to Shadows fall. Nobody can deny the sheer musicianship, talent and skill of these bands, but it’s all beginning to sound very similar to me. Screaming riffery, time changes and guitar solos emblazoned with ritual vomiting down a mic…but is that about to change?

With Shadows Fall new offering THE WAR WITHIN you are almost lulled into a false sense of security as the acoustic intro of The Light That Blinds soothes your ears. Needless to say, it doesn’t last long before the ritual oral slaughter begins, the pounding double bass and the piercing riffs explode with an untamed ferocity, gripping you and throwing down a forty-minute long gauntlet. It sounds impressive, but after reaching track three Act Of Contrition I can’t help but feel that perhaps I’ve heard this before. Yes, the new record is better produced, and features some very clever melodies, but it’s strange the way Brian Fair sings on melodic parts, like the chorus to What Drives The Weak, and it’s as if you’ve just put a new CD in the player. This followed by slightly cheesy riffs, and then into a death-esque open double bass chug is nothing new. Bands like In Flames and even old skoolers like Anthrax and Meshuggah have all partaken in this kind of musical partitioning.

That said, this record still has the power to grip you, and it’s obvious the songs have been written by people with a passion for what they do, and the energy is undeniable. Whether you’re a critic or not, you cannot deny the sheer quality of the musicianship, time changes, and more riffs per song than the Rasmus or Nickelback are ever likely to write in an entire lifetime. This is straight up, in-yer-face musical brutality, it is back-to-basics recording, with nothing added and nothing taken away.

However for those of you who are familiar with these boys’ work, the album doesn’t represent anything radically new, although technically the songs are different. My advice is if you’re a fan of the band and the other acts currently adorning the NWOAHM. then go get it and carry the flag for these musical revolutionaries.

3.5/5

Ade