"The Powerless Rise" Album Review

Track Listing:

01. Beyond Our Suffering
02. Anodyne Sea
03. Without Conclusion
04. Parallels
05. The Plague
06. Anger and Apathy
07. Condemned
08. Upside Down Kingdom
09. Vacancy
10. The Only Constant Is Change
11. The Blinding Of False Light

Few metal bands have enough zest to be thrusted into the spotlight. Not true with As I Lay Dying. Probably the most well-known Christian metal band in existence, As I Lay Dying has been on a 3-year album hiatus. Tim Lambesis has been busy with Austrian Death Machine, his solo project, while all the other members are spending time with family and friends. Finally, they have returned into the mainstream metal. And with their return, and their new album "The Powerless Rise", all I can say is two words, "MY GOODNESS!!!"

This may be in the running for one of the greatest metal albums of all-time. Also, as this is posted one week before the official release of the album, it could be a possibility as Christian music's first album atop the Billboard Top 200.

But why is this so good? It brings back something that most metal bands are lacking, sheer intensity. "Upside Down Kingdom", which is considered the title track for this album, starts off as most of the songs do on the album; catchy guitar riff (which sorta sounds like the Rich Mullins song 'Awesome GOD'), which leads into Tim Lambesis's incredible screams. Most of the choruses (chori...I don't know the plural of "chorus") on this album slow the extreme pace of the verses down to a calmer tone. Josh Gilbert, who is the clean vocalist, as well as rhythm guitarist, brings along a melodic tone that could very well move some people emotionally.

There are, though, the tracks that every AILD album has, completely brutal. "The Plague" is that example. Starts off fast, ends fast, and the meat and potatoes of the song are just as insane. This song is also a challenge to cover guitarists, as the skillful time signature changes can make any musician tremble with worry.

Now, for quickies. "Anger and Apathy" is over far too quickly, with a chorus that makes me feel goosebumps inside, complimentary of a smooth transition from the double-bass drumming and the fast-paced rhythm. "Condemned" sounds ripped directly from AILD's previous album 'Shadows Are Security', bringing along with it some of the similar melodies from 5 years ago. "Beyond Our Suffering" could easily be confused with a song by Austrian Death Machine, as it is just grit-your-teeth brutal. "Anodyne Sea" is a great example of what AILD does best, insane guitar riffs, fast drums, and amazing screaming vocals.

There are a lot of very similar words used in the quickies above, such as brutal and intense, but there is one song that may be my new favorite metal song of all time, "Parallels". Starting off with a simple, yet catchy, guitar riff, it then bleeds into a pulsating double-bass session that would make any amateur drummers feet bleed from the attempt of trying it. It then brings along something AILD isn't too well known for anymore, breakdowns. But the real zest of this song lies within the bridge, as it is filled entirely of clean vocals, and is the longest clean singing in the entire album. The lyrics, "We are not the same as I hope to show. There is a better way if we just let go." is the main highlight of the chorus and the entire song that just makes me personally think about our lives as christians and how we reflect our witness to others.

"The Powerless Rise" may just set the standard for all other christian metal bands to abide by. Despite this, it is not perfect (as I do thoroughly enjoy AILD's 'ballads'), but it is pretty darn close. I'd gladly wait another 3 years after the release of this album if they think they can top this. It's gonna be pretty friggan' hard though if you ask me!


Pros:

• Everything

Cons:

• Nothing

Overall: 5/5

Recommended Downloads:

1. Beyond Our Suffering
2. Anodyne Sea
3. Parallels
4. The Plague
5. Upside Down Kingdom
6. Or you could buy the whole album!