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Shadows Fall Information
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Shadows Fall is an American metalcore band whose sound incorporates elements of melodic death metal and thrash metal
Music
Once described as "death metal on melody pills", Shadows Fall's sound mixes melodic elements with crushing riffs, double bass drum patterns, and furious screaming-growling or death grunt vocals.
The sounds of Shadows Fall reflect both American and European influences. On the one hand, the band's use of "shredding", or fast guitar solos, draws upon the classic American thrash metal heritage of bands such as Metallica, Anthrax, and Slayer. Equally, however, its complex single-note riffs and dual-guitar harmonies have their roots in the European metal sounds commonly associated with the Gothenburg scene and bands such as In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, and At The Gates.
History
Shadows Fall was formed around 1995. The band released its debut album in 1997, 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. Several prestigious tours followed, 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 record also boasted a cover of Pink Floyd's "Welcome to the Machine".
The band's fourth album, the fiery War Within was released on 21 September 2004. The record, which was accompanied by music videos for the tracks "The Power of I and I", "What Drives the Weak", and "Inspiration on Demand", soon reached number one on the Billboard Independent Albums chart, and has sold around 300,000 albums so far in the United States.
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 wrote 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
Former band members
* Philip Labonte - Vocals
* Damien Mcpherson - Vocals
* David Germain - Drums
* Dereck Kerswill - Drums
Discography
*Somber Eyes to the Sky (1998)
*Of One Blood (2000)
*The Art of Balance (2002)
*The War Within (2004)
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