Band: All That Remains
Title: Overcome
Label: Prosthetic Records
Distribution: Prosthetic Records
Release date: 22/09/2008
Review: CD

Initially, All That Remains was meant to be a hobby band by Phil Labonte (v) and Oli Herbert (g), but soon it became clear that All That Remains was bigger than just a side-project. Three well-received full length albums (Behind Silence And Solitude, 2002, This Darkened Heart, 2004, and The Fall Of Ideals, 2006, all available through Prosthetic Records) and numerous gigs at festivals (like Wacken, Ozzfest, Warped) or with bands as Slipknot, As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage, Lamb Of God amongst others, did spread the name of All That Remains all over the world. Their music gets used, in mean time, in video games (Guitar Hero 2) and movies (Saw 3). Phil and Oli, along with Jeanne Sagan (b), Mike Martin (g) and Jason Costa (d), entered the studio with producer Jason Suecof, who did produce for bands as God Forbid, Trivium, Austrian Death Machine, Devildriver or Chimaera, to name a few, for the recording of the fourth studio release, which has duration of thirty nine minutes. As expected, Overcome continues where The Fall Of Ideals ended, yet again the album is more professional and mature than the former one. The rhythmic Metalcore still gets coloured with Death Metal-alike heavier parts, while the virtuosic guitar solos prove the guitar players’ craftsmanship. The compositions are interesting, and the variety, many tempo-changes and interaction between the members is excellent. Philip does control his voice and both his grunts and clean vocals fit well to the melodic, groovy, rhythmic and up-tempo music. One remark however: more than once, a heard-it-before-feeling may occur, which makes this album especially recommended to the real fans. Oh yes, the album ends with the Nevermore-cover “Believe In Nothing”.

80/100

Ivan Tibos.