Part of a new wave of US metal bands, Shadows Fall mixes elements of Gothenburg style melodic death metal, gritty thrash riffing and a hardcore sensibility to produce a dynamic and compelling sound. Formed in the late 90s in their home state of Massachusetts by Matthew Bachand (guitar/vocals) and Jonathan Donais (lead guitar), the pair added David Germain (drums), Philip Labonte (vocals), and Paul Romanko (bass, ex-Pushbutton Warfare). Initial gigs eventually gave way to recording sessions for their 1998 debut Somber Eyes To The Sky, released by Bachand on his own Lifeless label. A strong if somewhat unfocused set of songs, it did at least set the pattern for the band’s enthusiastic and aggressive take on metal principles. A surprise underground hit, the band won a licensing agreement for Europe and a strong performance at the Milwaukee Metalfest led to a contract with Century Media Records.
Intent on introducing a more dynamic element on their next record, the band recruited former Overcast vocalist Brian Fair (who the band had toured with in 1998) to replace Labonte. Fair’s more dextrous vocal ability immediately paid off, adding a new dimension to the band’s sound during the recording of Of One Blood. Immediately apparent on the stand-out tracks ‘Crushing Belial’ and ‘The First Noble Truth’, harsh riffing and intricate technical soloing was now balanced by Fair’s commanding vocals. Two years of hard roadwork followed, the band sharing stages with Slayer, Hatebreed, Pantera, Kittie and In Flames among a great many others. Recruiting new drummer Derek Kerkswill to replace the departing Germain, the band returned to the studio for the Deadworld EP (the European release Fear Will Drag You Down collated the EP and the preceding Of One Blood). Jason Bittner took over on drums on 2002’s The Art Of Balance. The strongest set of songs of the band’s career, the invigorating thrash of their earlier work was now equalled by a solid sense of melody. Fair’s lyrics also added a new dimension and the collection was rounded off by the surprise inclusion of Pink Floyd’s ‘Welcome To The Machine’, another indication of the band’s command of dynamics. Thoroughly well received in the music press, appearances with Iron Maiden and on the Ozzfest helped cement their growing reputation.
