All Else Fails – Incident At Black Lake
Release Date: 30th September 2022
Label: Self Released
Bandcamp
Genre: Metalcore
FFO: Chimaira, Killswitch Engage, Soilwork.
Review By: Liam True
Having had their first release in 2006 and have had a steady release schedule since, All Else Fails has never made it onto my radar. And after listening to their newest EP, I’m gutted I hadn’t heard of them beforehand. Their four track EP is a short, but sweet offering from the Canadian quartet.
Opening with an atmospheric & orchestral intro, before the harsh vocals of Barrett Klesko lull you into a sense of security, and he utters the words ‘We are the watcher’. The band then explodes into I, Defiler, packed with metalcore breakdowns, with guitarists Klesko & John Saturley, along with bassist Coco Lee, all chugging in tandem with the background drum kit of Nelson Collins-Lee. What might sound like standard metalcore the band beef it up a bit, with the clean vocals adding texture to it and the almost destructive symphonic background noise creating a more hostile environment to add to the track.
Devour The Sun offers an eight-minute, riff slashing epic that’s only rivalled by its intricacies and harmonies, only to be pushed aside by Klesko’s powerful vocals that make possibly the best song on the entire EP. Flesh /Excess /Wealth is where Collins-Lee shines, as his ability behind the kit is mesmerising. From the opening gallops of the double kicks to the almost octopus arm ability he possesses. The riffs and all-round fretwork from Klesko & Saturley add a layer to the song as they battle with each other to lead the song into a darker territory than the two previous songs.
EP closer Crystal Mountain shows the strongest riff the EP has to offer, as Klesko’s vocals are harsher which matches the song, being more fast-paced and rougher than the previous three. The all-round band effort here is tremendous, as you can tell they’ve been nurturing the EP for some time to get it to perfection. And while there are just a few issues I do have, such as not hearing the bass in some parts (it’s slightly overpowered by the symphonic elements), I can look over them to see the real picture behind the music and into the lyrical content. Being dark in nature, it tells the suffering that Klesko was facing and what he was seeing in his head. While very dark at times, it’s mind-bendingly beautiful to see it from this perspective. And I can’t wait to hear what else the band has to offer.
(4 / 5)
