iSound

Occasionally a blessing, but more often a curse, great expectations are thrust upon those who possess extraordinary talent and musical foresight. Given this reality, gifted musicians must continually elevate their performance to make relevant music, thereby satisfying both their audience and themselves as artists. Shadows Fall understand this concept and enjoy the challenge of achieving that delicate balance between sonic brutality and beauty. The band’s third album, The Art Of Balance, reaches that often-desired-yet-rarely-obtained equilibrium.

Rare is the hard rock band that can serve three masters successfully, but Shadows Fall can, thanks to their richly textured songs. An 8-minute metal epic is sandwiched between 4-minute rock anthems and moshworthy breakdowns. Put simply, The Art Of Balance is heavy metal for rock fans, rock for heavy metal fans, and rock and heavy metal for the hardcore fans.

"We are a better band now,” explains guitarist Matthew Ba...