As I Lay Dying
"Shadows Are Security"
Metal Blade

For As I Lay Dying’s last release, “Frail Words Collapse” I said that they seemed to want to be a hardcore band that really wanted to be a metal band in the worst kind of way. Well sadly, things haven’t changed with the band. They want to be the front-runner in genre of hardcore/metal, but are still a ways away from accomplishing that.

Now that is not to say that I don’t enjoy the newest release “Shadows Are Security” because I do. It’s definitely an improvement from their last album, as they have matured a bit more and have settled into more a steady sound, rather than jumping from style to style. Also singer Tim Lambesis is back behind the glass producing this effort, as he is slowly becoming one of the bigger and better names in the production world.

The strongest aspect to this band is by far Lambesis’ lyrics to the song. So personal and yet so harsh, it gives the songs all the more meaning people try to get out of them. I think kids today can totally relate to them all, and that is why they are becoming one of the more popular bands of the metal core scene.

Now usually, I don’t condone the whole screaming and then singing style unless done correctly. In between the heavy guitars, amazing drum work and screaming verse, a singing verse is usually right in tow. And As I Lay Dying pull it off just about perfectly. I still don’t like that style of song, I prefer more a straight forward screaming style, but hey, they do it well.

As I Lay Dying does have some momentum going now with this release and their stint on the 2nd stage of Ozzfest will most certainly let the band know if they have really made it to the big stage of metal if they can handle it.


Reviewed by: Chris Buehler
Reviewed on: July 6, 2005