For the Fallen Dreams – For the Fallen Dreams
Release Date: 10th March 2023
Label: Arising Empire
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Genre: Metalcore, Melodic Hardcore, Alt-Metal.
FFO: The Ghost Inside, The Plot In You, In Hearts Wake.
Review By: Kara Ketchum
For the Fallen Dreams is back with the seventh installment of their already impressive discography. With a lengthy history and numerous line-up changes, this self-titled release is their most refined and mature yet. The album, For the Fallen Dreams, is just as ferocious as it is familiar. It’s stuffed with the barrage of heavy riffs and thunderous drums that we’ve come to love FTFD for, but with a refreshingly clear purpose of putting out a quality piece of art.
The first song on the album “RE-animate” is a masterclass in what makes For the Fallen Dreams a metalcore mainstay. The song excels in showcasing their signature sound while also pushing the envelope of what is possible in the genre. Following that is “What If” – which starts as a groovy, ambient blending of genres, before stepping back under the metalcore umbrella with buttery soft vocals and riffage. Then comes “Last One Out,” a heavy, pleading ballad. It has the perfect balance of melody and aggression.
The fourth track on the album, “Without You,” is brimming with passion. This is my favorite vocal performance on the album, in part because it clearly comes from a heartfelt place. It’s heavily contrasted with “Testify.” While it’s just as passionate, this one feels more like an anthem and is equal parts intricate and complex. We cross the halfway mark of the album with “Searching…” which is an infectious exploration of introspection. The layered vocals and the sprinkle of manufactured ambiance are what’s really special about this track.
Track seven is titled “Suprapersonal” which opens with some spectacular heaviness before swinging into another melodic chorus. The relative safety of the chorus is not strong enough armor for the following brutal verses, making this song a flip-flop between rest and action. Next, “No Heaven”, is a synergistic group effort from each member of the band. Pulling each aspect of the song apart and analyzing them on their own shows the technical prowess that you can only achieve when you’ve been given the time to work on your craft. This song is my personal favorite on the album.
In the back quarter of the album, we start with “Sulfate.” The song features a delicious guitar solo that drones into a gnarly breakdown that asserts FTFD as the top of the food chain. Next, “Lavender” channels a diverse range of influences. The song builds in intensity, culminating in an explosive and cathartic climax. Ending on a high note, “Chemicals” is the perfect send-off to this sonically cinematic album. As if giving you the footnotes of everything the band has learned in the time they took to craft the album, this song encapsulates the genre and For the Fallen Dreams trademark sound.
In conclusion, For the Fallen Dreams is a stunning album that showcases the band’s immense talent and tempers their vision into something tangible. From start to finish, the album is an intense and exhilarating ride that will leave metalcore fans completely satisfied.
(4 / 5)
