AS I LAY DYING | Shaped By Fire | Album Review

Metalcore fans have been treated to exciting releases from some of the genre's flagship bands recently. So, it comes as no surprise that As I Lay Dying is another one of the bands making a big wave this year. "Shaped By Fire", As I Lay Dying's first studio album in seven years, comes after a lot of strife and hardship that many bands would like to avoid. Shortly after the band put out their last album "Awakened" on Metal Blade Records, frontman Tim Lambesis was in trouble with the law for a crime that most musicians associated with Christian metalcore in some way are likely to never commit. 2013 was the year he tried to take out his previous wife via a hitman which eventually cost him six years in prison, but being let out in a little less than three. During this time, the remaining members formed their own side project, Wovenwar, which lasted for two albums before Tim was released and made amends with the rest of the band. After the metal community learned that new music from the metalcore stalwarts was in the works, there seemed to be a lot of conflict and divison. Some people were excited, but others found it hard to side with Tim Lambesis due to his actions, and therefore were quick to judge a book by its cover. In my opinion, it's much easier to separate the art from the actions of the artist due to the fact that Lambesis has forgiven people and they seem to be moving in a brighter direction. For a very talented band with albums like "An Ocean Between Us" and "Awakened", that showcased their talent, and with members that are ready to set themselves on a new course, there is always potential. 

The two singles that were released before the album announcement were "My Own Grave" and "Redefined", the latter track of which featuring guest vocals from August Burns Red's leading frontman Jake Luhrs. "My Own Grave" was released in June of 2018 and was the track that initially caused the division between fans, with the more optimistic fans considering it a return to form for As I Lay Dying and an overall great track. In my opinion, this is the right track to try and hold the attention of longtime fans before the other tracks on the album are heard in full. "My Own Grave" has the defining characteristics of a modern As I Lay Dying song and carries a similar structure to tracks off of "Awakened", where the verses will have Tim Lambesis growling followed by Josh Gilbert who handles each chorus, followed by a breakdown/solo to divide the second and third choruses. This is done solidly on "My Own Grave". What is also noticeable about each track is that the musicianship is easily their most aggressive yet. The backing band deserve a lot of credit for their contributions here. There are moments on each track where the drumwork and guitar riffs get about as techincal as a speed metal album, but it's well calculated and they give you a break every so often, especially on "My Own Grave". "Redefined" is a bit of a similar tale and Jake Luhrs' vocal addition is a nice touch to this brutal metalcore track. Safe to say, these two tracks are strong and prove that the music can be solid even if a band member's actions aren't easy to let go for some. 

Aside from those two singles, there is a lot on here that will please fans of As I Lay Dying who have been waiting with baited breath for new material since "Awakened". The album is consistent in its style with each track delivering something similar in terms of musicality and structure. The album opens with an intro entitled "Burn To Emerge", that leads into the opening cut "Blinded" and the title track, both of which were also released. This is a great way to kick off an album. Both are chaotic tracks but don't get too rowdy or insane and everybody involved with the album is at their best. The production is also stellar with each of the instruments coming in clearly while the vocals don't overbear the rest of the mix. The title track is probably the highlight of the entire album with Josh Gilbert going into a higher register while everything stays consistent enough to be enjoyed. Tracks such as "The Wreckage" and "Undertow" follow suit in this fashion, as do the closing tracks "Only After We've Fallen" and "Torn Between", and tracks that up the heaviness as in the track "Gatekeeper". I can't say enough about how the musicianship is the best part of this album. Nick Hipa, Phil Sgrosso, and Jordan Mancino deliver more of the relentless techincality present in the two singles throughout this album and they're able to bring a lot to the table. It's an aspect that differentiates As I Lay Dying from other generic metalcore bands of their time and there is music on here that will prove to you why these musicians are so good and why Lambesis and Gilbert are vocally up to par on the entirety of this 12-track album.

My only issue with "Shaped By Fire" is that it lacks a true standout moment, even though tracks such as "Blinded", the title track, and "The Wreckage" are probably the standouts for me aside from the two singles. Aside from that, the fact that the structures of each song are glaringly similar does count as a detriment to this album as well. There isn't much on "Shaped By Fire" that deviates from the norm, at least structurally. A track that does deviate is "Gatekeeper", which brings to mind the early material from the band in terms of heaviness, but most cuts stay pretty balanced and steady. Sometimes that works out, other times it doesn't. That's what keeps this album from being the most phenomenal thing ever for me but it still is a good listen and a comeback that proves that As I Lay Dying haven't lost their touch. The next chapter of this band's career is a little bit more interesting, though, because I am hopeful of the band trying more new things instead of being the same for the rest of their tenure as a band. There is a little bit of that here with the intros and calmer sections, but they really need an album that goes overboard on new ideas in both the heavy and the light. As it is, however, "Shaped By Fire" is fine. There is enough for optimistic metalcore fans to dive into with the new album, especially when it comes to the musical side of things. Overall, As I Lay Dying have soared above their reputation with the material showcased on their seventh studio album. If you're looking for a good metalcore fix that has more bite to it, "Shaped By Fire" isn't to be ignored as the fire contained in these twelve tracks is clearly there. 

RATING: 7/10 

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