Del.icio.usShadows Fall
Fact Sheet
| Musical genre: | Metal |
| Country | Massachusetts, USA |
Shadows Fall's sound mixes hardcore, crushing riffs, double bass drum patterns, and furious screaming-growling vocals with melodic elements. Their music, most frequently described as metalcore or melodic death metal, or Gothenburg is influenced by Swedish metal bands such as In Flames.
A key feature of Shadows Falls' sound is the use complex single-note and power chord riffs featuring dual-guitar harmonies. This guitar style has its roots in European metal, and, in particular, the sounds of London heavy metal band Iron Maiden.
History
Shadows Fall released their debut album, Somber Eyes to the Sky on Lifeless Records, the label of guitarist Matt Bachand. This album gained popularity throughout their home of Massachusetts and soon, Century Media became interested and signed them.
The band's second album, 1998's Of One Blood, featured Brian Fair on vocals. The band embarked on a worldwide tour with a wide range of artists, including the Misfits, King Diamond and In Flames, another Century Media band. Their third album, The Art of Balance, was praised for Shadows Fall's newfound rhythym section, improved with the addition of their new drummer, Jason Bittner.
In 2003, Shadows Fall was invited to play on the world-famous Ozzfest tour. They were considered one of the best new bands on the tour and sold more albums every stop than any other side-stage band. They then went on several other prestigious tours, including Japan's Beast Fest and MTV2's Headbanger's Ball tour with such bands as Killswitch Engage and Lamb of God. Shadows Fall released three music videos; Thoughts Without Words, Destoyer of Senses and The Idiot Box, and became the first band on Century Media to sell over 100,000 copies.
Shadows Fall continue to receive praise for their music from the media and their fans. They were named one of Alternative Press' "Top Five Bands in Metal Today", voted "Best New Talent" by readers of Revolver Magazine and received the "Golden God Award" for Best Underground Act at the Metal Hammer Awards. Thier fourth album, War Within, reached number one on the Billboard Independent Albums chart. The band's two guitarists write a monthly column in Guitar World Magazine, and also ranked one of the magazine's "Tob 100 Guitarists of All Time". Drummer Jason Bittner was praised as the "#1 Up and Coming Drummer" in a 2004 reader's poll for Modern Drummer Magazine.