Shadows Fall
| Shadows Fall | |
|---|---|
 Shadows Fall performing in 2007. From left to right: Matt Bachand, Paul Romanko, Jason Bittner, Brian Fair, and Jonathan Donais. |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Springfield, Massachusetts, United States |
| Genres | Thrash metal, metalcore, melodic death metal (early) |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | Century Media, Atlantic, Roadrunner, Everblack, Ferret, Spinefarm |
| Associated acts | Aftershock, All That Remains, Exhumed, Killswitch Engage Overcast, Burning Human, Avenged Sevenfold |
| Website | www.shadowsfall.com |
| Members | |
| Brian Fair Jonathan Donais Matt Bachand Paul Romanko Jason Bittner |
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| Past members | |
| Philip Labonte David Germain Adam Dutkiewicz Derek Kerswill |
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Shadows Fall is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. They are one of the few contemporary metal bands who take their lyrical influence from Eastern philosophy.[1] Although the band has experienced several line-up changes, for most of its recording career Shadows Fall has been composed of Brian Fair (vocals), Jonathan Donais (lead guitar), Matt Bachand (guitar), Paul Romanko (bass), and Jason Bittner (drums).
Shadows Fall have released six studio albums, two compilation albums, and one DVD. The band's first album featured Philip Labonte on vocals, although he was soon replaced by Fair. Shadows Fall's first two studio albums featured David Germain playing drums, but in 2002 Bittner joined the band full time. In February 2008, the band was a Grammy Award nominee in the category Best Metal Performance for the song "Redemption" off the album Threads of Life.
Contents |
History
Formation, Somber Eyes to the Sky, and Of One Blood (1995–2000)
Shadows Fall formed in 1995 by guitarists Jonathan Donais and Matt Bachand with the help of Adam Dutkiewicz.[2] Donais and Bachand recruited vocalist Philip Labonte, and bassist Paul Romanko to complete Shadows Fall's original line-up.[2] The band released its first EP To Ashes, with Dutkiewicz playing as a session drummer. After the release of the demo Dutkiewicz left to form Killswitch Engage. David Germain joined the band as drummer, to fill the empty position.[2] Shadows Fall toured the New England area opening for artists such as Fear Factory and Cannibal Corpse. The newly formed band recorded its first studio album Somber Eyes to the Sky, in November 30, 1997 through Bachand's recording label, Lifeless Records.[2] The band's name, according to Bachand, comes from the title of a comic book published in the early 1990s.[3]
In 1998, Labonte was asked to leave the band due to personal and artistic differences. He later formed the band All That Remains. The band looked for a replacement vocalist and found Brian Fair at an Overcast concert. After a US Summer tour with Shai Hulud, Overcast disbanded and the band asked Fair if he would like to join Shadows Fall.[2] While on tour Shadows Fall was signed to Century Media Records. The band recorded its second studio album Of One Blood with Fair on vocals in 2000, the release included re-recorded songs from Somber Eyes to the Sky. In 2001, David Germain decided to left the band due to alcoholism, and was replaced by former Stigmata drummer Jason Bittner.[4][2]
The Art of Balance (2001–2003)
Due to repeated comparisons with Gothenburg melodic death metal bands, Shadows Fall decided to change its style to find its own sound.[5] Inspired by more thrash, hard rock and power ballad influences, the band recorded its third studio album, titled The Art of Balance.[6] Released on September 17, 2002, the album peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Top Independent albums chart.[7] Shadows Fall released three music videos to promote the album; "Thoughts Without Words", "Destroyer of Senses", and "The Idiot Box".[8] The Art of Balance featured a cover of the Pink Floyd song "Welcome to the Machine". Steve Huey of Allmusic stated the album is "a modern heavy metal album that is both brutal and highly musical, traditional yet forward-thinking", but criticized the placement of "Welcome to the Machine", stating the song "is stylishly well-executed, but seems a tad out of place nonetheless."[9] Shadows Fall supported The Art of Balance by touring on Ozzfest in 2003.[10]
The War Within (2004–2006)
Shadows Fall released its fourth studio album The War Within on September 21, 2004. It was the first release to enter the Billboard 200 for the band at number 20, and peaked at number one on the Top Independent albums chart.[7] In promotion for the album, Shadows Fall released four music videos over the course of one year; "The Power of I and I", "What Drives the Weak", "Inspiration on Demand", and "Enlightened By the Cold".[8] The song "What Drives the Weak" received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Metal Performance in 2006, however the award went to Slipknot for the song "Before I Forget".[11] "The Light That Blinds" was featured in the video game Guitar Hero II. Wade Kergan of Allmusic praised the album stating the band has "grown beyond the confines of the metal-loving hardcore crowd anyway, with more in common now with the classic thrash of Metallica than the metal-tinged hardcore of Coalesce".[12] As of 2008, the album has sold almost 300,000 copies in the United States.[13]
Shadows Fall released its first DVD The Art of Touring in November 2005. The DVD included a live concert, backstage footage, and six music videos.[14] The band released its final CD on Century Media Records, titled Fallout from the War on June 13, 2006. Released as a compilation album, it debuted at number 83 on the Billboard 200. Fallout from the War included tracks recorded for The War Within that did not make it on to the album, b-sides, re-recordings, and cover songs. David Jeffries of Allmusic claimed the album is "a great informal introduction to the ferocious and melodic witches' brew Shadows Fall always seems to nail."[15]
Threads of Life (2007–2008)
Shadows Fall signed a deal with Atlantic Records to distribute the band's albums in the United States, and a deal with Roadrunner Records for international distribution.[3] The band released its fifth studio album Threads of Life on April 3, 2007. "Redemption", the first single from the CD was released on February 20, 2007 through iTunes with an accompanying music video.[16] "Redemption" received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Metal performance; the award ceremony as held on February 10, 2008.[17] Slayer's "Eyes of the Insane" won the award. Thom Jurek of Allmusic stated Shadows Fall has "lost none of the fire, attack or attitude" on Threads of Life. Jurek also said the album featured "killer guitar breaks, big fat chugging riffs, power-slam skin work, cattle prod bass, and cool little hooks and melodic touches on top of those bludgeoning riffs make Threads of Life a major label debut of merit, and a metal record worthy of celebrating."[18] Keith Bergman of Blabbermouth.net stated "Threads of Life is slick as hell."[19]
Shadows Fall toured in support of Threads of Life, including making appearances at the Jägermeister tour with Stone Sour and Lacuna Coil,[20] the Operation Annihilation tour with Static-X, 3 Inches of Blood, and Divine Heresy,[21] and the Black Crusade tour with Trivium, Machine Head, Dragonforce, and Arch Enemy.[22] The band was a part of the Soundwave tour in Australia and in Asia in February 2008, along with Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying, and Bleeding Through.[23]
Retribution (2009 onward)
Shadows Fall released their sixth album, Retribution, on September 15, 2009, through the band's own label, Everblack Industries, which was created in conjunction with Warner Music Group's ILG, Ferret Music and ChannelZERO Entertainment. It is being released in the UK via Spinefarm Records. The album was produced by Chris "Zeuss" Harris. Drummer Jason Bittner recently stated about the band's new material, "The songs are a little more on the darker, angry side... lots of heaviness, lots of crazy guitar, and LOTS of room for me to have some fun. There is no doubt in my mind that this will be the best performance of my career, so far, and I owe that to my guys for bringing me incredible riffs to write killer drum parts to." As of the fall of 2009 the band was appearing on the 'Shock & Raw' tour of North America with 2Cents, Otep & Five Finger Death Punch. After a South American tour, Shadows Fall will be playing on the Jagermeister Stage in the 2010 Rockstar Mayhem Festival in July and August 2010. The band is also scheduled to support Lamb of God on their Australian tour in December[24]
Shadows Fall will release a live CD/DVD, Madness in Manila: Shadows Fall Live in The Philippines 2009, on August 24, 2010.[25]
It has been hinted in an interview that Shadows Fall may head into the studio to record a new album sometime early 2011
Band members
- Current
- Brian Fair: lead vocals (2000–present)
- Jonathan Donais: lead guitar, backing vocals (1995–present)
- Matt Bachand: rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1995–present)
- Paul Romanko: bass guitar (1995–present)
- Jason Bittner: drums, percussion (2002–present)
- Former
- Philip Labonte: vocals (1995–1999)
- David Germain: drums (1995–2001)
- Session
- Adam Dutkiewicz: drums (1996)
- Derek Kerswill: drums (2001–2002)
Discography
- Studio albums
| Year | Album | Billboard 200 |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Somber Eyes to the Sky | – |
| 2000 | Of One Blood | – |
| 2002 | The Art of Balance | 15[A] |
| 2004 | The War Within | 20 |
| 2007 | Threads of Life | 46 |
| 2009 | Retribution | 35 |
- A^ The Art of Balance debuted at #15 on the Top Independent Albums.
- Compilation albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 2002 | Fear Will Drag You Down |
| 2006 | Fallout From the War |
| 2007 | Seeking the Way: The Greatest Hits |
- Video albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 2005 | The Art of Touring |
| 2010 | Madness in Manila |
Singles
| Year | Title | US Main. [26] |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | "What Drives the Weak" | 38 | The War Within |
| 2005 | "Inspiration on Demand" | 33 | |
| 2007 | "Redemption" | 37 | Threads of Life |
| "Another Hero Lost" | 40 | ||
| 2009 | "Still I Rise" | — | Retribution |
| 2010 | "Bark at the Moon" [27] | — |
Awards and nominations
Nominations
- Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance – "What Drives the Weak" (2006)[11]
- Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance – "Redemption" (2008)[17]
References
- ↑ Gauntlet Asia. "Shadows Fall Interview". http://asia.thegauntlet.com/interviews/369/Disgust.html. Retrieved 10/02/2009.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Huey, Steve. "Shadows Fall biography – Allmusic". Allmusic. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:fbfqxqwjldke~T1. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Epstien, Daniel Robert. "Shadows Fall interview". Ugo.com. http://www.ugo.com/ugo/html/article/?id=17152. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ Jaya the Cat Official Website David Germain bio "I wasn’t happy and started drinking way to much which effected my playing, so eventually we all decided it was time for me to go."
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20010609010017/www.unchain.com/current/shadowsfall.html
- ↑ Shadows Fall bio “This time, instead of eight Gothenburg death metal songs, we have ballads, rock songs, thrash tunes.”
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Shadows Fall – Artist Chart history". Billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=341394&model.vnuAlbumId=907088. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Shadows Fall – Artist videography". Mvdbase.com. http://www.mvdbase.com/artist.php?last=Shadows+Fall&first=. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ Huey, Steve. "(((The Art of Balance)))". Allmusic. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3ifyxqtaldfe. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ "Ozzfest alumni". Ozzfest.com. http://ozzfest.com/static_content/view/alumni.html. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "48th Grammy Awards – 2006". Rockonthenet.com. http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2006/grammys.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ Kergan, Wade. "(((The War Within)))". Allmusic. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:aifexqysldke. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ "Shadows Fall biography – Atlantic Records". Atlanticrecords.com. http://www.atlanticrecords.com/shadowsfall/bio. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ Chad Bower. "Shadows Fall – The Art Of Touring DVD". Heavymetal.about.com. http://heavymetal.about.com/od/reviews/gr/rev_sfalldvd.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ Jeffries, David. "(((Fallout from the War)))". Allmusic. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:jzftxqldldfe. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ "Hear Shadows Fall's Single, "Redemption," Online". Metal underground.com. 2007-02-22. http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=24411. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Rock And Metal Featured In 2008 Grammy Nominations". Metalunderground.com. 2007-12-06. http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=31736. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ Jurek, Thom. "(((Threads of Life)))". Allmusic. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:azfpxzq5ldje. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ Bergman, Keith. "CD reviews – Threads of Life". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/showreview.aspx?reviewID=1086. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ "Stone Sour to Headline Spring Jagermeister Tour". Metalunderground.com. 2007-12-07. http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=23627. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ "Operation Annihilation tour". Operationannihilationtour.com. http://www.operationannihilationtour.com/. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ "Shadows Fall Added To 'Black Crusade' European Tour With Machine Head, Trivium". Blabbermouth.net. 2007-06-16. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=74867. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ "Soundwave '08". MTV. http://www.mtv.com.au/tours/67/. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ "Shadows Fall Begin Recording New Album". Metal Hammer (Future). February 4, 2009. http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/shadows-fall-begin-recording-new-album/. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
- ↑ http://tunelab.com/2010/06/26/shadows-fall-to-release-live-dvd-in-august/
- ↑ Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks
- ↑ [1]
External links
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