The Fall of Ideals is the third studio album by the American heavy metal band All That Remains, released on July 11, 2006. Three music videos were created for the songs "This Calling", "Not Alone" and "The Air That I Breathe". It is the only All That Remains release with drummer Shannon Lucas and the band's first album to feature bassist Jeanne Sagan. Musically, the album features a more melodic metalcore sound the band would be known for. It is viewed as a landmark in the metalcore genre with Revolver Magazine dubbing it one of metalcore’s most essential records.[4]
The Fall of Ideals was produced by the Killswitch Engage guitarist, Adam Dutkiewicz, and engineered by the Soilwork guitarist Peter Wichers. The release marked a turning point for band, as they shifted away from the heavier death metal sound of their first two records. With The Fall of Ideals, the group embraced a more melodic metalcore approach that would come to shape much of their future work. This album also featured the debut of bassist Jeanne Sagan, who would go on to become a longtime member of the lineup.[5] The album was the band's first to enter the Billboard 200 charts, at number 75, with just under 13,000 copies sold. On May 23, 2008, it was announced that the album had sold in excess of 175,000 copies worldwide.[6] As of 2021 it has since sold over 450,00 copies.[5]
Labonte described the recording process as the most relaxing session they ever had with Adam Dutkiewicz stating “So when we got to doing The Fall of Ideals we showed up with our ideas and were kinda expecting Adam to be like, ‘Well change this and change that.’ [But] there was very little that he thought should change. He was like, ‘Yeah, this is all good.”[4]
The music on The Fall of Ideals has been characterized as "speedy metalcore that takes obvious cues from melodeath."[8] According to Revolver, "The Fall of Ideals represents the pinnacle of [All That Remains'] focused headbanging metalcore era." Phillip Labonte's screams on the album have been described as "deep," and Oli Herbert's guitar riffs are described as "intense".[9] The album's instrumentation makes use of harmonized guitar work, as well as what Greg Prato of AllMusic describes as "chug-a-lug riffs," drawing comparison to Iron Maiden and Metallica.[10]
Lambgoat described the album as “more melodic. For example, while most songs use the formula of having metal verses, and melodic singing choruses, the sixth track (entitled "Six") is very close to a melodic death metal songs, ala Vehemence. On the flip side there are tracks that utilize more melody, whether in the riffs or singing, than an aggressive, metal style."[11] Having Shannon Lucas’ drumming also permitted them to explore more aggressive double-bass and fast parts. This resulted in the song This Calling which came together after Labonte tested out how fast Shannon could play double bass.[4]
Labonte has stated that the album's lyrics were more uplifting/optimistic due to him being in a positive spot in his life while writing them, stating “I felt like I had a lot of things to say and a lot of stuff I wanted to get across to people and I was in a really really good spot in my life. And I felt things were so optimistic and we were very excited.” “So that’s why there’s so many songs, like ‘The Air That I Breathe,’ that are just about overcoming challenges … ‘It Dwells in Me’ ... those songs really kind of speak to making the most out of your situation. And that was kinda where I was … things felt good and it felt really natural … It was a special time.”[4]
Greg Prato of AllMusic gave the album an average review, saying: "There's just not a lot differentiating All That Remains from the oodles of other metal bands vying for Ozzfest spots circa 2006."[20] Scott Alisoglu of Blabbermouth.net gave the album a more positive review stating “All That Remains effortlessly blends thrashy twin guitar fireworks and Phil Labonte's raging vocals with soaring clean vocals and overall tunefulness. One could choose to call much of the material on "The Fall of Ideals" formulaic, but it is a formula that usually works.[21] Adrien Begrand of Pop Matters hailed, "ALL THAT REMAINS has made the kind of stylistic leap that most bands can only wish they could pull off” “The Fall Of Ideals' [is] invigorating from start to finish, and could very well be the metalcore album of the year."[22] Rob McFeters of Lambgoat gave the album a perfect score simply stating “The entire band executes the songs perfectly," adding that "the production is full and crisp."[11] Scott Borre of Seaoftranquility wrote “The Fall of Ideals is not an album to just pass over. Even if you don't like some of the metalcore out there, All that Remains has managed to put out an album that has songs that many fans of metal can enjoy.”[23]
Legacy
The album has been described as a metalcore classic, genre defining,[24][25] and having "set the template" for future metalcore bands that would follow,[26] In 2019, the album was voted #3 in Revolver Magazine’s top 5 greatest metalcore albums of all time.[26]
Track listing
All lyrics are written by Philip Labonte; all music is composed by Labonte, Oli Herbert, Mike Martin, and Jeanne Sagan.
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