The Art of Balance | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 17, 2002 | |||
Recorded | 2002 | |||
Studio | Planet Z Studios (Hadley, Massachusetts) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 47:28 | |||
Label | Century Media | |||
Producer | Chris "Zeuss" Harris | |||
Shadows Fall chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Art of Balance | ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [4] |
Chronicles of Chaos | (9/10) [5] |
Punknews.org | [6] |
The Art of Balance is the third album by American heavy metal band Shadows Fall,released on September 17,2002. The album sold over 4,500 copies the week of its release,and debuted at position 15 on the Top Independent Albums chart. [7] [8] With this release being the first with Jason Bittner,the lineup was solidified onwards as it is today's current members and the longest lineup in Shadows Fall's career's history.
The Art of Balance was the first studio album by the band to which the entire lineup contributed,meaning that no songs were re-recorded from older material (except for "Stepping Outside the Circle",which originally appeared on the EP Deadworld ). [9] Matthew Bachand explained that this unity created a better band and that,"this time,instead of eight Gothenburg death metal songs,we have ballads,rock songs,thrash tunes." [10]
"Thoughts Without Words" was the album's first music video,featuring a simple band performance. [11] The follow-up,"Destroyer of Senses," had the group performing in a snowed-in building and drinking with friends. [12] "The Idiot Box" served as the basis for a final video,featuring the group's performance and backstage antics. [13] All three videos saw significant airplay on MTV2 and Fuse TV.
Thematically,the album was inspired by the quest to find a perfect "balance" between melody and aggression. Lyrically,the album revolves around the fight against spiritually destructive forces. The song "Thoughts Without Words" was influenced by Chinese Buddhism and refers to the moment where,through meditation,a person's inspiration and expression become united.
The concept behind the album,as explained by Brian Fair:"It's the idea of oneness and unity between all people and all things. It's the idea that all systems begin from the same spark and it's something we get further away from. We're all in this together." [9] [10] Fair also explained that he came up with the title for the record,and it represents the "balance of melody and aggression," and the "process of trying to find that balance between the two." [7]
The song "Thoughts Without Words" is "based around meditation and yoga," and on "trying to be able to calm the mind and experience things without constantly thinking them." [7] In other words,being lost in the moment. "Destroyer of Senses" is about Fair's father's battle with alcoholism. Alcohol,or even certain experiences,can make one feel more alive ('Giver of life'),but at the same time affect the senses ('Destroyer of senses').
All lyrics are written by Brian Fair; all music is composed by Shadows Fall, except "Welcome to the Machine," written and composed by Roger Waters
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Idle Hands" | 3:34 |
2. | "Thoughts Without Words" | 4:31 |
3. | "Destroyer of Senses" | 2:54 |
4. | "Casting Shade" (instrumental) | 2:09 |
5. | "Stepping Outside the Circle" | 5:14 |
6. | "The Art of Balance" | 4:46 |
7. | "Mystery of One Spirit" | 5:10 |
8. | "The Idiot Box" | 4:30 |
9. | "Prelude to Disaster" (instrumental) | 1:48 |
10. | "A Fire in Babylon" | 7:30 |
11. | "Welcome to the Machine" (Pink Floyd cover) | 5:05 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Video Interview" | |
2. | "Destroyer of Senses" (Live at Club Chrome 5/31/02 and CBGB's 6/3/02) | |
3. | "Thoughts Without Words" (Live at Club Chrome 5/31/02 and CBGB's 6/3/02) | |
4. | "Of One Blood" (Live bootleg; recorded at Club Cyclone in Tokyo, Japan 2001) |
Shadows Fall is an American metalcore band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1996. Although Shadows Fall has experienced several line-up changes, for most of its recording career, Shadows Fall has been composed of guitarists Jon Donais and Matt Bachand, bassist Paul Romanko, lead vocalist Brian Fair and drummer Jason Bittner.
Of One Blood is the second studio album by Shadows Fall, released on April 4, 2000. It was the band's first release on Century Media Records, featuring Brian Fair, and the last to feature drummer David Germain.
Somber Eyes to the Sky is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Shadows Fall, released in 1997 on Matt Bachand's own label Lifeless Records in the United States, while the European release was handled by Genet Records. This was the band's last release and only studio album with lead singer Philip Labonte, who helped form All That Remains the following year.
Brian James Fair is an American musician from Massachusetts, best known as lead vocalist of the metalcore band Shadows Fall. He graduated from Milford High School in 1993, and went on to study literature at Boston University.
Jonathan Donais, also known as Jon Donais, is an American guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist for thrash metal band Anthrax since 2013, and as co-founder of metalcore band Shadows Fall.
Matt Bachand is an American guitarist. He has strong death metal and thrash metal influences. He is rhythm guitarist and clean vocalist for the metalcore band Shadows Fall, and the bassist for Act of Defiance.
Jason Bittner is an American musician, best known as the current drummer for metal band Shadows Fall. He is also the current drummer for supergroup Category 7 as of 2024. He was also the drummer for the thrash metal bands Toxik from 2013 to 2014, Flotsam and Jetsam from 2014 to 2017, and Overkill from 2017 to 2024.
The War Within is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Shadows Fall. The album has sold over 300,000 copies worldwide. The War Within is the band's best selling album, and in 2005 made sales history on Century Media Records when it became the label's best selling album of all time. To date, the album retains this status. The album was also issued as a limited edition digipak with an exclusive bonus DVD that featured bootleg concert footage along with drum and guitar lessons from members of the band. The album debuted at number 20 on the Billboard 200 during its release.
Fallout from the War is a compilation album by heavy metal band Shadows Fall, released on June 13, 2006. It contains a selection of songs written during the sessions for The War Within and The Art of Balance, as well as some covers by bands that have inspired Shadows Fall over the years. Fallout from the War is billed as a "companion" to The War Within. It was their final release for Century Media before moving to Atlantic Records.
Threads of Life is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Shadows Fall. Released on April 3, 2007, in the U.S. through Atlantic Records, the album debuted at number 46 on the Billboard 200. The first single, "Redemption", made its premiere on Sirius Radio's Hard Attack station on February 16, 2007 and was released on iTunes on February 20. "Redemption" received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Metal Performance at the 50th Grammy Awards.
The Art of Touring is the first DVD released by the American, metal band Shadows Fall. It was released in 2005 through Century Media Records. The DVD features live concert, backstage, and behind-the-scenes footage shot throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan from 2002 to 2004. The DVD also includes the six music videos from The Art of Balance and The War Within albums.
Deadworld is an EP only released in Japan by American heavy metal band Shadows Fall. The song "Stepping Outside the Circle" was re-recorded in 2002 for the band's third studio album The Art of Balance.
Seeking the Way: The Greatest Hits is a Shadows Fall greatest hits collection, covering songs the band released through their previous label Century Media. The songs are taken from the following releases:
"The Light That Blinds" is the first track from heavy metal band Shadows Fall's fourth studio album The War Within.
"Redemption" is the lead single from the album Threads of Life by American heavy metal band Shadows Fall. The song has a thrash melodic with heavy riffs. The song made its premiere on Sirius Radio's Hard Attack station on February 16, 2007 and was released on iTunes on February 20. The song was sent to radio in March. On December 6, 2007, Redemption was nominated for a Grammy for Best Metal Performance. It appeared on the game Madden NFL 08.
Retribution is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Shadows Fall. The album was released on September 15, 2009. It debuted at number 35 on the Billboard 200. The album would produce singles for "Still I Rise" and for their cover of Ozzy Osbourne's "Bark at the Moon". The song "War" is an original composition but uses lyrics from the Bob Marley & the Wailers song War.
Madness in Manila: Shadows Fall Live in the Philippines 2009, commonly referred to as simply Madness in Manila, is the second concert DVD by American thrash metal band Shadows Fall and was released on October 26, 2010 via Everblack Industries/Ferret Music. The disc included footage that was shot on April 30, 2009 at the Pulp Summer Slam in Manila, Philippines.
Times of Grace is an American metalcore band formed in Southampton, Massachusetts. The group consists of Adam Dutkiewicz and Jesse Leach while guitarist Joel Stroetzel, bassist Matt Bachand, drummer Dan Gluszak complete the touring lineup. An album was planned for 2009. However, the group remained largely inactive until 2010, releasing the single "Strength in Numbers", with their debut album, titled The Hymn of a Broken Man, released in 2011 through Roadrunner Records.
"What Drives the Weak" is the second single by Shadows Fall from their album The War Within. The song peaked at no. 38 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
"Inspiration on Demand" is the second single from Shadows Fall's album The War Within. The song charted at no. 33 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, making it the band's most successful single to date.