Album Review: For The Fallen Dreams – For The Fallen Dreams (Arising Empire)

US metal outfit For the Fallen Dreams return with their self-titled seventh album, set for release on the 10th of March 2023 via Arising Empire.

The bravado showcased on this album could only come from a band that oozes pure confidence. A band comfortable in their skins, able to combine their past glories with one eye on the future. This is For the Fallen Dreams, and they’re evidently reinvigorated as they mark 15 years since the release of their debut album.

Blending an eclectic set of styles, rooted in modern production and with forward-thinking electronica, but with elements of nu-metal and alt-metal drip-fed throughout, this self-titled album is all about massive sounding metal anthems. Kicking off with one of the most intense in RE-Animate. Groovy and enthusiastic, it’s a pit starter if there ever was one.

It’s a lower tempo effort with What If, a track that adds some moodier melodic touches and sees the clean vocals really ascend here. It’s a catchy effort, especially as it’s still extremely savage sounding.

Saturated with indistinct atmosphere, the nu-metal vibes are strong in Last One Out, but this is a track that is all about its chorus. A singalong and head-banger of the highest calibre. Whereas more alt-metal groove steps up with Without You, blended with gruelling blasts of aggression, the anthemic qualities of the album are constantly present.

The bar has been set with the first handful of tracks but the poise For the Fallen Dreams has ensures there’s no drop in quality as the album hits another meaty, mean and melodically charged high with Testify. Before delivering powerful dramatics and chaotic heaviness with Searching…

It’s nice to never know quite what might come next, even though For the Fallen Dreams has an overall familiar feel. Not in the sense that ‘we’ve heard it all before’ but more in the sense that its elements are comfortably relatable and delivered in a refreshing way. It’s why the album continues to delight as it reaches its latter half. For the Fallen Dreams delivering massive bangers like Suprapersonal, No Heaven, and Sulfate. Stompy groove, heavy breakdowns, melodic ebbs, and crunching flows. It’s a consistent joy to experience.

So much so that the final tracks of the albums sneak up and wallop the listener around the back of the head with some of the heaviest blows yet. The seething intensity of Lavender and the melodic radiance mixed with crashing ferocity of Chemicals. Two more exceptional efforts on an album that is bright, brilliant, brash, and brutal.

For the Fallen Dreams – For the Fallen Dreams Track Listing:

1. RE-Animate
2. What If
3. Last One Out
4. Without You
5. Testify
6. Searching…
7. Suprapersonal
8. No Heaven
9. Sulfate
10. Lavender
11. Chemicals

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