A band that can still produce relatively good music…
Review by Kristian Pugh
Razor & Tie (Website; Facebook)
Release date: 23 February 2015
All That Remains are one of those bands that have “been round the block”, if you will. With six previous studio albums and over a million album sales worldwide, it seems pretty clear that All That Remains probably aren’t still around for the money, more so for their love of the industry and their fans, which in its 15 year relationship has had some ups and downs. But ultimately, the five-piece from Massachusetts still have an audience that are prepared to sweat and bleed for them. The Order Of Things, if anything, is an example of a band that can still produce relatively good music without feeling the need to truly test themselves or to create something different.
Opening track ‘This Probably Won’t End Well’ is one of the few stand-out tracks from the album, with its slow ominous start and then a precise burst into life bringing with it edgy riffs which capture the imagination and increase the heartbeat. ‘No Knock’ sees what would seem a welcome return to All That Remains’ earlier and heavier days, with vocalist Phillip Labonte giving the sort of growls we became accustomed to hearing on records such as The Fall Of Ideals. However with some relatively uninspiring lyricism and coherent sound, ‘No Knock’ leaves a bad taste in the mouth and lacks that brain trembling sound we would have expected All That Remains to produce on a hardcore track.
Both ‘The Greatest’ and ‘Bite My Tongue’ are tracks that fans of a “back in the day” All That Remains will see the mediocrity in, both providing a 4 minute slug that feels like with some added creativity and back-bone could have been something memorable. With some slightly lacklustre riffs both tracks carry a sense of a mainstream stamp on them. ‘For You’, while also staying away from a more aggressive All That Remains and preferring a slow, melodic sound, is the best song on the record. The track itself has a real stripped down feeling to it, and is one of the few songs on The Order Of Things which shows All That Remains at their musical best. Phillip Labonte provides both a calming and enchanting vocal performance while guitarists Oli Herbert and Mike Martin give the track an ensemble of captivating riffs.
While ‘A Reason For Me To Fight’ gives a more exciting punch to the record with its pace and in areas genius-like injection of hardcore vocals and mind bending riffs, ‘Pernicious’ and ‘Fiat Empire’ bring back The Order Of Things unimaginative and basic feel, with their predictability and their general lack of inspiration. Make no mistake, All That Remains are still a great band, and should be hailed for their several great accomplishments, but with The Order Of Things, they seem like a band that are lacking in new ideas, and if they have no plans to return to their more hardcore side of the past, should take a more creative and testing approach to their future endeavours.
6 out of 10
Track listing:
- This Probably Won’t End Well
- No Knock
- Divide
- The Greatest
- For You
- A Reason For Me To Fight
- Victory Lap
- Pernicious
- Bite My Tongue
- Fiat Empire
- Tru-Kvlt-Metal
- Criticism and Self-Realization
