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12/24/08, 03:03 PM
For the Fallen Dreams - Changes
Record Label: Rise Records
Release Date: January 8, 2008
Rarely am I ever pleasantly surprised with any record I buy. It’s usually as good as I expected or disappointing. What’s even more shocking is that I could find a record that is a pleasant surprise as well as one of the heaviest and most brutal records in my ever increasing collection, especially considering I had previously listened only to the beginning of just one song prior to my purchase. Then again, Changes is a record with a little bit more to it.
Staying true to their home state’s new nickname “Moshigan,” Lansing, MI’s For The Fallen Dreams delivers an impressive debut full-length. Changes begins with “Brothers in Arms,” a fairly repetitive song that foreshadows what’s to come in the next nine songs. Unfortunately, this song does not really start the record off right. This would normally be devastating since I’m a sucker for the first song. The next track, “New Beginnings,” pulls Changes back up and puts the record right on track.
What becomes evident after listening to the first songs off Changes is how For The Fallen Dreams attempt to set themselves apart from similar sounding bands: solid guitar work and melody. It seems like too many bands in the self-dubbed “Meathead Metalcore” genre are too one-dimensional. All they care about is being as heavy as all get out and just letting out their anger. While both are evident throughout Changes, For the Fallen Dreams are more than that. Their guitarists are superior to most of their peers’ guitarists. The guitarists are each very talented and supply a somewhat uncharacteristic melody throughout the songs. Most of the songs off Changes are catchy in their own way which helps carry the record. At various times throughout Changes there are these little melodic bursts as in “New Beginnings” and “Vengeance.”
While it is clear that For the Fallen Dreams can separate themselves, they can also tend to rely on the typical features found throughout most of the bands in their given genre. If there’s one thing these guys love, it’s the double bass. Virtually every song on the record has the good ol’ double bass. Almost as frequent in its use are breakdowns which too can be found in virtually every song. In addition, if you’re expecting that this is one band who actually isn’t complete pissed off at the world, you would be dead wrong (see “Vengeance” for proof).
Even though the name of the game is still the same, For the Fallen Dreams has created a standout debut record that shows they have something to prove. They want you to know they’re a band with something to scream about, and you should listen up.
It Prevails; Emmure; Stick to Your Guns; Bury Your Dead
www.myspace.com/forthefallendreams (http://www.myspace.com/forthefallendreams)
Record Label: Rise Records
Release Date: January 8, 2008
Rarely am I ever pleasantly surprised with any record I buy. It’s usually as good as I expected or disappointing. What’s even more shocking is that I could find a record that is a pleasant surprise as well as one of the heaviest and most brutal records in my ever increasing collection, especially considering I had previously listened only to the beginning of just one song prior to my purchase. Then again, Changes is a record with a little bit more to it.
Staying true to their home state’s new nickname “Moshigan,” Lansing, MI’s For The Fallen Dreams delivers an impressive debut full-length. Changes begins with “Brothers in Arms,” a fairly repetitive song that foreshadows what’s to come in the next nine songs. Unfortunately, this song does not really start the record off right. This would normally be devastating since I’m a sucker for the first song. The next track, “New Beginnings,” pulls Changes back up and puts the record right on track.
What becomes evident after listening to the first songs off Changes is how For The Fallen Dreams attempt to set themselves apart from similar sounding bands: solid guitar work and melody. It seems like too many bands in the self-dubbed “Meathead Metalcore” genre are too one-dimensional. All they care about is being as heavy as all get out and just letting out their anger. While both are evident throughout Changes, For the Fallen Dreams are more than that. Their guitarists are superior to most of their peers’ guitarists. The guitarists are each very talented and supply a somewhat uncharacteristic melody throughout the songs. Most of the songs off Changes are catchy in their own way which helps carry the record. At various times throughout Changes there are these little melodic bursts as in “New Beginnings” and “Vengeance.”
While it is clear that For the Fallen Dreams can separate themselves, they can also tend to rely on the typical features found throughout most of the bands in their given genre. If there’s one thing these guys love, it’s the double bass. Virtually every song on the record has the good ol’ double bass. Almost as frequent in its use are breakdowns which too can be found in virtually every song. In addition, if you’re expecting that this is one band who actually isn’t complete pissed off at the world, you would be dead wrong (see “Vengeance” for proof).
Even though the name of the game is still the same, For the Fallen Dreams has created a standout debut record that shows they have something to prove. They want you to know they’re a band with something to scream about, and you should listen up.
It Prevails; Emmure; Stick to Your Guns; Bury Your Dead
www.myspace.com/forthefallendreams (http://www.myspace.com/forthefallendreams)