The Fall of Ideals

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The Fall of Ideals
Studio album by
All That Remains
ReleasedJuly 11, 2006
RecordedOctober 2005 – February 2006
StudioZing Studios in Westfield, Massachusetts
GenreMelodic metalcore
Length38:59
Label
ProducerAdam Dutkiewicz
All That Remains chronology
This Darkened Heart
(2004) 		The Fall of Ideals
(2006) 		Overcome
(2008)
Singles from The Fall of Ideals
  1. "This Calling"
    Released: June 27, 2006[1]
  2. "The Air That I Breathe"
    Released: July 4, 2006[2]
  3. "Not Alone"
    Released: August 11, 2006[3]

The Fall of Ideals is the third studio album by the American heavy metal band All That Remains, released on July 11, 2006. Three music videos were created for the songs "This Calling", "Not Alone" and "The Air That I Breathe". It is the only All That Remains release with drummer Shannon Lucas and the band's first album to feature bassist Jeanne Sagan. The album debuts the band's signature melodic metalcore sound that it would become known for, with choruses contained in nearly every track. It is viewed as a landmark in the metalcore genre with Revolver Magazine dubbing it one of metalcore’s most essential records.[4]

Background

[edit]

The Fall of Ideals was produced by Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz and engineered by Soilwork guitarist Peter Wichers. The release marked a turning point for band, as they shifted away from the heavier death metal sound of their first two records. With The Fall of Ideals, the group embraced a more melodic metalcore approach that would come to shape much of their future work. This album also featured the debut of bassist Jeanne Sagan, who would go on to become a longtime member of the lineup.[5] The album was the band's first to enter the Billboard 200 charts, at number 75, with just under 13,000 copies sold. On May 23, 2008, it was announced that the album had sold in excess of 175,000 copies worldwide.[6] As of 2021, it has since sold over 450,00 copies.[5]

Labonte described the recording process as the most relaxing session they ever had with Adam Dutkiewicz, stating “we showed up with our ideas and were kinda expecting Adam to be like, ‘Well change this and change that.’ [But] there was very little that he thought should change. He was like, ‘Yeah, this is all good.'”[4]

The album cover was created by Travis Smith.[7]

The song "Six" is featured in Guitar Hero II. "This Calling" is available as downloadable content for Rock Band and is also used as the lead track for the Saw III soundtrack and on the Masters of Horror II soundtrack.

Music and lyrics

[edit]

The music on The Fall of Ideals has been characterized as "speedy metalcore that takes obvious cues from melodeath."[8] According to Revolver, "The Fall of Ideals represents the pinnacle of [All That Remains'] focused headbanging metalcore era." Phillip Labonte's screams on the album have been described as "deep," and Oli Herbert's guitar riffs are described as "intense".[9] The album's instrumentation makes use of harmonized guitar work, as well as what Greg Prato of AllMusic describes as "chug-a-lug riffs," drawing comparison to Iron Maiden and Metallica.[10]

Lambgoat described the album as “more melodic. For example, while most songs use the formula of having metal verses, and melodic singing choruses, the sixth track (entitled "Six") is very close to a melodic death metal songs, [sic] ala Vehemence. On the flip side there are tracks that utilize more melody, whether in the riffs or singing, than an aggressive, metal style."[11] Having Shannon Lucas’ drumming also permitted them to explore more aggressive double-bass and fast parts. This resulted in the song "This Calling", which came together after Labonte tested out how fast Shannon could play double bass.[4]

Labonte has stated that the album's lyrics were more uplifting/optimistic compared to the band's previous two records due to him being in a positive spot in his life while writing them, stating “I felt like I had a lot of things to say and a lot of stuff I wanted to get across to people and I was in a really really good spot in my life. And I felt things were so optimistic and we were very excited.” “So that’s why there’s so many songs, like ‘The Air That I Breathe,’ that are just about overcoming challenges … ‘It Dwells in Me’ ... those songs really kind of speak to making the most out of your situation. And that was kinda where I was … things felt good and it felt really natural … It was a special time.”[4] Despite this, some tracks with negative connotations such as "Six", which is lyrically themed around heartbreak, exist on the record.

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.comStarStarStarStarHalf star[12]
AllMusicStarStarHalf star[13]
Blabbermouth.net7.5/10[14]
Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles8/10[15]
PopMatters8/10[16]
Ultimate Guitar9/10[17]
Lambgoat5/5[18]
SeaoftranquilityStarStarStarStar[19]

Greg Prato of AllMusic gave the album an average review, saying: "There's just not a lot differentiating All That Remains from the oodles of other metal bands vying for Ozzfest spots circa 2006."[20] Scott Alisoglu of Blabbermouth.net gave the album a more positive review stating “All That Remains effortlessly blends thrashy twin guitar fireworks and Phil Labonte's raging vocals with soaring clean vocals and overall tunefulness. One could choose to call much of the material on "The Fall of Ideals" formulaic, but it is a formula that usually works.[21] Adrien Begrand of Pop Matters hailed, "ALL THAT REMAINS has made the kind of stylistic leap that most bands can only wish they could pull off” “The Fall Of Ideals' [is] invigorating from start to finish, and could very well be the metalcore album of the year."[22] Rob McFeters of Lambgoat gave the album a perfect score simply stating “The entire band executes the songs perfectly," adding that "the production is full and crisp."[11] Scott Borre of Seaoftranquility wrote “The Fall of Ideals is not an album to just pass over. Even if you don't like some of the metalcore out there, All that Remains has managed to put out an album that has songs that many fans of metal can enjoy.”[23]

Legacy

[edit]

The album has been described as a metalcore classic, genre defining,[24][25] and having "set the template" for future metalcore bands that would follow,[26] In 2019, the album was voted #3 in Revolver Magazine’s top 5 greatest metalcore albums of all time.[26] In 2020 it was voted the 5th greatest metalcore album of all time on Ultimate Guitar.[27]

In 2022 All That Remains embarked on a 15th anniversary tour for the album, playing it in its entirety.[28]

Track listing

[edit]

All lyrics are written by Philip Labonte; all music is composed by Labonte, Oli Herbert, Mike Martin, and Jeanne Sagan.

No.TitleLength
1."This Calling"3:38
2."Not Alone"3:30
3."It Dwells in Me"3:14
4."We Stand"3:47
5."Whispers (I Hear Your)"3:39
6."The Weak Willed"4:05
7."Six"3:22
8."Become the Catalyst"3:06
9."The Air That I Breathe"3:34
10."Empty Inside"3:22
11."Indictment"3:42
Total length:38:59
Japanese edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
12."This Calling (Demo)"3:33
Total length:42:32

Personnel

[edit]
All That Remains
Production

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2006) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[29] 194
US Billboard 200[30] 75
Official Charts Company Peak

Position

Rock and Metal Albums[31] 28
Independent Albums[31] 27

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "All That Remains This Calling (Single)". Spirit of Metal. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  2. ^ "All That Remains The Air That I Breathe (Single)". Spirit of Metal. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  3. ^ "All That Remains Not Alone (Single)". Spirit of Metal. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Staff, Revolver. "All That Remains 'The Fall of Ideals': 7 Things You Didn't Know About Metalcore Hit". Revolver. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Blabbermouth (August 25, 2021). "ALL THAT REMAINS To Celebrate 15th Anniversary Of 'The Fall Of Ideals'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  6. ^ "All That Remains Upcoming CD Title ‘Overcome’ For Late Summer Release" Archived October 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Posted May 23, 2008.
  7. ^ "All That Remains' 'For We Are Many' Album Artwork Revealed". Noisecreep. August 16, 2010. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  8. ^ Crane, Matt. "13 metalcore songs any death-metal fan can like". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  9. ^ Staff, Revolver. "Fan Poll: 5 Greatest Metalcore Albums". Revolver. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  10. ^ The Fall of Ideals - All That Remains | Album | AllMusic, retrieved April 11, 2025
  11. ^ a b "ALL THAT REMAINS 'The Fall of Ideals' Album Review". lambgoat.com. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  12. ^ The Fall of Ideals overview. About: Heavy Metal
  13. ^ The Fall of Ideals review. AllMusic
  14. ^ The Fall of Ideals review. Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Blabbermouth
  15. ^ Perri, David (September 2006). "Hardwares: Brave Picks". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. No. 98. p. 59.
  16. ^ The Fall of Ideals review. PopMatters
  17. ^ https://es.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/all_that_remains/the_fall_of_ideals/12454
  18. ^ https://lambgoat.com/albums/2083/all-that-remains-the-fall-of-ideals/
  19. ^ https://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=4118
  20. ^ The Fall of Ideals - All That Remains | Album | AllMusic, retrieved April 11, 2025
  21. ^ "BLABBERMOUTH.NET". www.roadrunnerrecords.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  22. ^ "All That Remains: The Fall of Ideals - PopMatters Music Review". www.popmatters.com. Archived from the original on November 16, 2007. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  23. ^ "Review: "All That Remains: The Fall of Ideals" - Sea of Tranquility - The Web Destination for Progressive Music!". www.seaoftranquility.org. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  24. ^ Arneson, Sven (October 27, 2021). "All That Remains to Celebrate 15 Years of 'The Fall of Ideals' in Bozeman". Logjam Presents. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  25. ^ Blabbermouth (August 25, 2021). "ALL THAT REMAINS To Celebrate 15th Anniversary Of 'The Fall Of Ideals'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  26. ^ a b Staff, Revolver. "Fan Poll: 5 Greatest Metalcore Albums". Revolver. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  27. ^ "Friday Top: 20 Best Metalcore Albums of All Time". www.ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  28. ^ Blabbermouth (May 30, 2023). "ALL THAT REMAINS's 'The Fall Of Ideals' Certified Gold In U.S." BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  29. ^ "All That Remains - The Fall of Ideals". oricn ME inc.
  30. ^ "All That Remains Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  31. ^ a b "ALL THAT REMAINS". Official Charts. February 13, 2025. Retrieved September 25, 2025.