The Fallen - Front Toward Enemy Review
Posted by Evocator Manes on 09.22.2002
One of the more exciting new bands out there finally get their chance to earn your ear.
This is an intriguing album on several different levels. In the fore is the difficulty of
attempting to attribute the band'92s sound to any one genre as they display bits of pure thrash speed
and dynamics with gravelly vocals akin to a more death metal sensibility. On the other hand, the
band puts forth incredible chops on three instrumentals. One will never mistake anyone in the
band for virtuosos, but on songs like The Hopeless And The Frail and it'92s follow-up From
Fragile To Strength, a pleasant and welcome surprise can be expected when the strains of
acoustic guitar strains emanate from amidst the pounding and relentless assault of more crushing
track such as Killswitch, only to return to crush the listener again. A bonus song, titled All
Things Must Change perhaps, is even included, which features Granat'92s very capable singing.
That is not always the case for the majority of vocals. Vocalist Mike Granat is eerily
reminiscent of Slayer'92s Tom Araya, while drummer Max Wolff'92s tasteful accompaniment races
merrily along to the brutal power of bassist Bryan Klinger (subject of an interview elsewhere on
this site) and guitarist Mark Venier. Make no mistake, however, this album is not for everyone.
Fans of the mediocre and trite need not apply and should seek their entertainment elsewhere.
In an album literally full of great songs, picking standouts is a most overwhelming task,
yet tracks like In Loathing and Keep Suffering somehow manage to rise above. If you don'92t
find your head nodding along in unison to the rock solid riffs on these songs, you may as well
pack it in and start your search for music in Braille.
This is not to say that all is perfect in the land of The Fallen. Granat'92s solos often times
are superfluous and even drag some of the songs down, while the lyrics, also mainly by Granat,
seem inextricably tied in with Pantera'92s Becoming. These complaints are minor against an
overwhelming majority of things to like about this album.
The cover art harkens back to the days of Fear Factory (R.I.P.). The booklet contains all
lyrics and the band has spent a great deal of time and energy on the package as a whole. It shows,
as the liner notes and tray cards contain some intriguing manipulations of the standard listing of
credits. With so much of quality, it is hard not to find something to like about this band.
From the riffs to the sheer power of the music to the effort in even small details like the
packaging, this band is trying to entertain on all fronts. While their sales success remains to be
seen, this band is poised to take their rightful position as one of metal'92s heavies. In an era when
not much anymore qualifies as original, and The Fallen doesn'92t offer much in the way of
innovation, it is still heartening to find a band that has continued to stick to development of their
sound. Make no mistake, The Fallen'92s sound is very rewarding to discriminating listeners and
their position of never selling out is one that has to be commended and respected.
The 411: Easily one of the best new acts of the last decade, any fan of metal could do much worse than to hitch their proverbial wagon to this rising star. A solid album, through and through.
