Artist - Still Remains
Album - Of Love and Lunacy
Label - Roadrunner Records
Reviewer - Robin Steeley
Slated for release on May 2nd by Roadrunner Records, Still Remains debut release Of Love and Lunacy is a twelve-track offering full of the most hardcore sounds imaginable. Natives of Grand Rapids, Michigan, the quintet manages to rework an innovative metal formula that has been overdone lately and carve out their own identity in the masses, they aren’t afraid to take things in a new direction on an old path. The album was produced by none other then the infamous GGGarth Richardson (RATM, Kittie) and his distinct production traits are present on every track.
The CD opens with “To Live and Die in Fire” a guitar led tirade which is followed by the blistering “Worst Is Yet To Come” and the melting breakdowns of “In Place of Hope”. Other standout tracks are the furious “White Walls” which features a punishing rhythm section and evil guitar riffs blended in with its more melodic choruses. I also really loved the crushing sweet breakdowns in the song “Cherished” and the atmospheric keyboard in the one-minute track “With What You Have”. Also, check out the more epic styled “Recovery” which features clean vocals followed by throat ripping death metal growls. We can’t forget the final track, titled “Blossom” which has plenty more of those addicting breakdowns that seem to permeate most of Still Remains music.
Overall, the music is full of depth and multi textured layers of sonic abuse.
Crunchy metal guitars, aerial keyboards and tight percussion give it a dynamic quality that is often left out in the current metal trends of today. If I had any constructive criticism for this album, it would be that many of the songs seem to start the same and some seem similar in formula. This doesn’t deter from my placing this CD on my spin list, It has that European metal flavor with a modern American edge that I really like. You can find the band on this year’s Road Rage tour or for more information check out their website at www.stillremains.com.
Still Remains is
A.J. Barrette - Drums
Evan Wiley - Bass
Jordan Whelan - Guitars
T.J. Miller - Vocals
Zach R
Tracklisting
1. To Live and Die In Fire
2. The Worst Is Yet To Come
3. In Place of Hope
4. White Walls
5. Bliss
6. Cherished
7. With What You Have
8. Kelsey
9. Recovery
10. I Can Revive Him With My Own Hands
11. Stare and Wonder
12. Blossom The Witch
