The Powerless Rise Cd Review

The American Metal-Core band from San Diego has released their fifth album, The Powerless Rise. Formed in 2000 by vocalist Tim Lambesis, the five musicians have performed at much-acclaimed festivals like Wacken Open Air, Soundwave Festival and Warped Tour alongside acts like GWAR, Trivium, In Flames and Cannibal Corpse.

With it being three years since their Grammy-nominated album, An Ocean Between us, The Powerless Rise to heavy melodic riffs in “The Only Constant Is Change” is beautiful and flesh-gripping materiae gives fans a power album! Adam Dutkjewicz of Killswitch Engage helped produce majority of the album at Lambesis’ private studio, and only once the music was complete did Lambesis get a feel of the song, inspiring him to then write the lyrics. He states that the song “Anger and Apathy” was mid tempo and that there were certain parts that lulled, and other sections reminded him of an apathetic and passionate feeling. Rather than filling the album with bitter ranting, Lambesis has attempted to make his lyrics about offering a solution.

With both guitarists Phil Sgrosso and Nick Hipa, together with bassist Josh Gilbert – all three play a part in the fast, intricate riffs and solos complimented by Jordan Mancino’s drilling double bass on drums. Gilbert and Lambesis have impeccable clean and screaming vocals that chill your very soul. “Anodyne Sea” is an example of the perfect ‘get-your-face-ripped-off’ head-banging tracks that could catch and drown you in its’ melodic tunes. Songs like “Without Conclusion” and “Parallels” offer crunchy intros, constant solos and amazing riffs.

The vocals in “Anger And Apathy” at times sound like Adema, and it is a pity that the two vocalists don’t do more together in songs. “Condemned” brings a fast and thrashy feel with tight breaks and “Upside Down Kingdom” literally brings the best out of each musician. It is heavy with well constructed tempo changes, amazing drums, solo-like melodic riffs and perfect harmonies. “Vacancy” shows the extent of Sgrosso and Hipa’s passion on guitar, and the change over from the clean intrl.

Most albums have that ‘Song 2’ – where the second song is usually the single or best track; however in The Powerless Rise you get that feeling in almost every single song. With well constructed and beautiful songs, every riff, note and drum beat is different. It just feels as though these guys have laid everything out on the table for fans to grab at the music and make it their own…

Reviewed By: Tamlyn Grey

The Powerless Rise Tracklist

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

iTunes bonus track:
12. Condemned (Gunfight Mix) [Pre-Order Only]

As I Lay Dying Line-up

Tim lambesis – Vocals
Phil Sgrosso – Guitar
Josh Gilbert – Bass/Vocals
Nick Hipa – Guitar
Jordan Mancino - Drums

Production and design:

Produced by Adam Dutkiewicz and As I Lay Dying
Engineered by Adam Dutkiewicz and Daniel Castleman
Additional vocal engineering and editing by Joseph McQueen
Mixed by Colin Richardson
Mix engineer: Martyn "Ginge" Ford
Mixed at Lambesis Studios, Del Mar, CA
Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound
Album art by Jacob Bannon

As I Lay Dying Weblinks

Buy/Downloads