Shadows Fall is a modern thrash metal band from Massachusetts, USA.

Music

Once described as "death metal on melody pills", Shadows Fall's sound mixes hardcore, crushing riffs, double bass drum patterns, and furious screaming-growling vocals with melodic elements. Their music is influenced by "old-school" thrashers such as Metallica and Anthrax as well as Gothenburg bands.

A key feature of Shadows Falls' sound is the use complex single-note and power chord riffs featuring dual-guitar harmonies. This guitar style has its roots in European metal, and, ultimately, the sounds of London heavy metal band Iron Maiden. However, the band's vocal style exhibits greater brutality than many comparable European outfits; a characterstic common among the "new wave" of Massachusetts hardcore and metalcore bands.

History

Shadows Fall released their debut album, Somber Eyes to the Sky on Lifeless Records, the label of guitarist Matt Bachand. The record garnered the band considerable attention in the Massachusetts area, and led to the band securing a recording contract with Californian independent metal record label Century Media.

The band's second album, 2000's Of One Blood, featured Brian Fair on vocals. The band embarked on a worldwide tour with a wide range of artists, including the Misfits, King Diamond and In Flames, another Century Media band.

The band's third album, The Art of Balance was released on September 17, 2002. Buoyed by a powerful new rhythm section headed by new drummer, Jason Bittner, the album was inspired by the quest to find a perfect "balance" between melody and aggression.

In 2003, Shadows Fall was invited to play on the world-famous Ozzfest tour. They were considered one of the best new bands on the tour and sold more albums every stop than any other side-stage band. They then went on several other prestigious tours, including Japan's Beast Fest and MTV2's Headbanger's Ball tour with such bands as Killswitch Engage and Lamb of God. Shadows Fall released three music videos; "Thoughts Without Words", "Destoyer of Senses" and "The Idiot Box", and became the first band on Century Media to sell over 100,000 copies.

The band's fourth album, the fiery War Within, was released on September 21, 2004 and soon reached number one on the Billboard Independent Albums chart.

Shadows Fall were named one of Alternative Press' "Top Five Bands in Metal Today", voted "Best New Talent" by readers of Revolver Magazine and received the "Golden God Award" for Best Underground Act at the Metal Hammer Awards . The band's two guitarists write a monthly column in Guitar World Magazine, and also ranked one of the magazine's "Top 100 Guitarists of All Time". Drummer Jason Bittner was praised as the "#1 Up and Coming Drummer" in a 2004 reader's poll for Modern Drummer Magazine.

Band Members

• Brian Fair - Vocals
• Jonathan Donais - Lead Guitar/Vocals
• Matt Bachand - Guitar/Vocals
• Paul Romanko - Bass Guitar
• Jason Bittner - Drums

Discography

• Somber Eyes to the Sky (1998)
• Of One Blood (2000)
• The Art of Balance (2002)
• War Within (2004)

External Links

Official Site Century Media Records