Review by Nathan on March 27, 2020.

20 Buck Spin has become the de facto label nowadays for death/doom; i.e. bands that were too slow for Dark Descent. It wasn't always that way - remember that Liturgy was on this label's roster at one point, but I'm assuming the rousing success of Tomb Mold inspired them to jump right on the bandwagon, as is evidenced by bands like Superstition, Cerebral Rot and Witch Vomit. For an aficionado of the style, this label is likely a treasure trove, but for those of us that prefer death/doom on select occasions the bands start to blur together after a while.

Solothus has the benefit of having a couple albums already under their belt, allowing them to define their style and identity more thoroughly. Unlike a good chunk of 20BS bands that are all about the bouncy caveman riffs, Realm of Ash and Blood is a pensive, desolate affair, emphasizing doom over death. By definition it is lurching, repetitive and consistently ominous in its execution. Upon first listen it can be hard to gauge what Solothus has going for them over other bands, but as time goes on there's a melancholic sense of melody that brings itself to the surface. A common route for bands in this genre to go is to cake the songs in filth, but there's a clarity to the harmonized riffs on this album that could only have been cooked up by some sad, lonely Finns.

Even with the occasional forays into more inviting guitarwork, Realm of Ash and Blood retains its heaviness and airtight atmosphere. The warm, dry riff bed steadily pulsates as a more delicate but equally tense guitar line circles overtop. The dynamics are subtle, and aside from the brief break that 'Last Breath' provides, most of the respite comes from the leads and solos. The opening of the final track, 'A Rain of Ash', is the only thing on this album that I would describe as "upbeat" or "energetic", and even that's a stretch, and it's followed by seven minutes of the same sub-100BPM turmoil that was going on before. 'The Watcher' is the clear single on this one, not to say it's any less dreary than any of the other tracks, it's just a little more condensed in structure. The drums serve as a skeleton and pace keeper and opt to not add much extra spice, they’re pure, disgusting doom, with very little outside influence.

The consistency of this album is both its strong suit and weak point. While Solothus does a good job of keeping you engaged with very minimal guitarwork, their steady vibe prevents them from reaching heights that are truly magical. I often find myself wishing the band went a little deeper into their melodic leads, which is something the closing track actually does very well, but it's a long, treacherous, and at times monotonous road getting there, and it's not always a path I'm in the mood to take. This is basically Hooded Menace if they recruited one of Insomnium's guitarists, which makes for a slightly more palatable mixture, but still one that will likely only appeal to doom junkies. In all likelihood, you probably already knew if you liked this or not before you even heard a note of the music.

Rating: 7.2 out of 10

Review by JD on January 2, 2011.

Change is always a good thing, when the band strives for their own voice in the world. Many fail and disappear from the musical landscape after basically shooting themselves in the foot. Few do end up making it, then there are only that rare couple that seem to be the masters of their own domains. Springfield, Massachusetts based Shadows Fall is one of those few bands that have changed and evolved, yet still kept their fan base in tact. A feat in itself.

They were a Death Metal force at first, but they have take the right path to where their music needed to go. People say there are now a speedier Metalcore or a bastardized form of Nu-Metal sort of flavouring. That is shit calling Shadows Fall any of this. I call what they do is a sort of Death-Thrash mix with some shading of even some old school mixed in for favouring - combined all together for maximum metal output.

Songs like the explosive ‘Stillness’ to the all encompassing brute force assault of ‘Those Who Cannot Speak’ show that the band has the complete trifecta necessary for a good band. Pure talent, overwhelming power and the total balls to do it in their own way and the fuck with anyone. With that, they truly are metallic superstars, and "The War Within" shows that point rather well.

You either like Shadows Fall or you do not. You cannot ignore the fact that they are one of the best in the business today. Any one of their releases can be considered to be impressive and this album really hits that point home. Watch out Metallica, Slayer and every other band out there right now - The Big Guns are in town, and will take you all down with ease. Good stuff!

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9.5
Atmosphere: 10
Production: 9
Originality:9.5
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Review by Bryan on September 18, 2004.

Shadows Fall has re-written the book on American metal, penning chapters on riffage, solos, drumwork and singing. The War Within is, simply put, one of the best damn records to come out in years.

The War Within fuses metal together with hardcore undertones, the bands distinctive sound, like riding a rollercoaster upside down at breakneck speed without wearing any safety equipment. Not just a blatant scream-fest either, Brian Fair’s voice helps carry this album further; rough enough to complement the music, and not overbearing to distract the listener. Shadows Fall has no reservations about incorporating solos into the fray, proving it’s still cool to have flying fretboard fingers in the 21st century.

Some bands, no matter how powerful their live performance, fall short on their records. Instead of capturing their live essence and energy, they produce only a satisfactory level of artifical “studio” sound that generally results in their CD’s getting more use as a coaster for your beer than anything else. The War Within does not succumb to any such notion, romping and stomping through ten tracks that are more infectious than stepping on a rusty nail. It should be no surprise that Shadows Fall have also once again utilized Zeuss (Hatebreed, Blood Has Been Shed, Sworn Enemy) as their producer.

It’s pointless to single out any particular track and sing it praise, pressing any track number on your stereo is hitting a bulls-eye.

Shadows Fall are song architects, each member of the band understands the art of conveying emotion through music. They are not afraid to focus on a soft melody or groove while tying it together with six-string crunch.

The War Within is The Art of Balance, Of One Blood and more. Just as Master of Puppets is to Metallica, Peace Sells…is to Megadeth and The Number of the Beast is to Iron Maiden, this record will forever become synonymous with the name Shadows Fall.

Musicianship: 10
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 10
Originality: 9
Overall: 10

Rating 9.6 of 10