Band:	Shadows Fall
Album:	The Art Of Balance
Style:	Metalcore, Thrash metal
Release date:	2002
Guest review by:	Arian Totalis

01. Idle Hands
02. Thoughts Without Words
03. Destroyer Of Senses
04. Casting Shade
05. Stepping Outside The Circle
06. The Art Of Balance
07. Mystery Of One Spirit
08. The Idiot Box
09. Prelude To Disaster
10. A Fire In Babylon
11. Welcome To The Machine [Pink Floyd cover]

There are few bands that make such progressive steps in musicianship as Shadows Fall per album. Their first album was a melodic death metal classic. Their second album saw a change in sound and a beginning in innovation, while still melo-death incorporated hardcore influences. Yet this third album is considered by many a fan to be the masterpiece of this dynamic and unique band. This album is by far their peak in performance, and truly earns it's title, the art of balance. This is perhaps the most creative and original albums to have been released in the last five years. With a brand new step in the direction of originality and ingenuity, this is part three, and possibly the greatest part, of the history of Shadows Fall. You are about to learn the Art of Balance.

The reason why the title of this album is so fitting, is because they seem to have found a perfection in the balance between melody and brutality. Brian Fair is a great attribution to this effect. On songs such as 'Thoughts Without Words' and 'A Fire in Babylon', this is well exemplified. What's more, Matt Bachand is well known for having a very good death growl, this too helped to show the perfection in this album.

Instrumentally this album is simply amazing. The intro to the song 'A Fire in Babylon', for example, starts off with a melodic yet powerful intro. There are guitars playing in harmony with a crushing rhythm behind them, when it goes to harsh and heavy riff, that song is simply amazing. I feel that overall the guitar is perfect in this album. The solo work doesn't sound recycled, but remains original yet still crazy. The lead lines are played well and range from quick and aggressive to slow and beautiful. The rhythm is equally impressive, locking into every root note played and never letting up, with a diverse variety of chords, and is undeniably catchy.

The drums are ungodly on this record. This album is the entrance of the amazing drummer Jason Bittner, he is nothing short of mind blowing with his combination of double bass and cymbals work. he also has fills more crazy than previous drummer Dave Germain, and seems to always know when to hit the snare.

Lastly, the lyrics in this album are deep, diverse, and just orgasmic. If you are a spiritualist, then you no doubt would love the lyrics to the song 'The Mystery of one Spirit.' It is a calling to the occult and ways of spiritual growth. There are also many political stances taken in this album as well, as seen in songs such as 'The Idiot Box' and 'The Art of Balance'. And lastly, people can personally identify with these lyrics, as seen in such songs as 'Idle Hands' and 'Thoughts Without Words'.

This album deserves a ten, plain and simple, if you haven't listened to it, give it a chance, and maybe you'll learn about "The Art of Balance."