Band:	Born From Ruins
Album:	Falling From Grace
Style:	Alternative metal, Hard rock
Release date:	December 27, 2014
A review by:	Ilham

01. Prelude
02. Suffer
03. Pity
04. Falling From Grace (Run Away)
05. What's To Gain
06. Bloodshot
07. Eternal Sleeper
08. She's Gone
09. Save Me
10. Die Bleeding
11. Swallow [2014 version]

You know that shit they say about never forgetting your inner child?

Well they're wrong, children suck. But you should try to remember how awkward, passionate and conflicted you were as a teenager. Firstly, you will understand why your parents found your behaviour so annoying, and, secondly, be able to enjoy this album a greater deal. Because listening to Born From Ruins for the first time feels just like opening a box of the most varied pot pourri of alternative, hardcore, melodic metalcore and even nu metal from the early 2000s. And to be honest, even if some bits get a little kitsch, the whole thing doesn't smell bad at all.

Just as I thought I had to say that Falling From Grace is the band's second effort, my previous allusions to the process of growing felt even more necessary. Boy, did they grow: they went from sounding like an amateur local band to a promising professional act. There's nothing more agreeable than a detailed production that highlights just the right moments at the right time. But what is there to highlight? Passages that perfectly capture what I love in bands such as Deftones. I didn't even need someone to inform me of the vocalist's admiration for Chino Moreno, as I would have heard the similarities in style right from the first ten seconds. Skilled and varied, the frontman guides you into the album, from catchy and energetic tracks to lengthier moody pieces. One goes from surprise to surprise as they find scattered around bits inspired by A Perfect Circle, pure New York hardcore aggression, and even a riff so reminiscent of Korn it makes you feel guilty for having sold the CD back to the store for 80 cents when you hit 16. You get the gist of it: you can't deny these guys did the best they could to keep you entertained.

Nevertheless, there is still a margin of improvement left for Born From Ruins to mature within. It might just be a matter of pulling back sometimes, perhaps including more dense atmospheric pieces à la "Minerva", improving a riff here and there, moving away from the "you don't know me" lyrical theme, or even hiring a graphic designer *cough*pick me*cough*. However, what bugs me the most is the placement of what I believe is the weakest track of the album right after the introduction piece. The contrast between the stereotypical "Suffer" and the beautiful, almost progressive "Pity" is too great not to be noticed. I believe the band shines the brightest in songs such as "Eternal Sleeper" and "Swallow" that come a little later in playlist.

Falling From Grace is literally born from the ruins - see what I did there? - of musical styles that have been decried, mocked, and stereotyped for almost twenty years. It is a passionate, simple and catchy - yet borderline too adolescent - album for the guy who likes to put the car radio on, and sing along. Even at red lights.