Fire from the Sky | ||||
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Studio album by Shadows Fall | ||||
Released | May 15, 2012 | |||
Recorded | Zing Recording Studios (Westfield, Massachusetts); Wicked Good Recording Studios | |||
Genre | Thrash metal, metalcore, melodic death metal | |||
Length | 41:42 | |||
Label | Razor & Tie | |||
Producer | Adam Dutkiewicz, Shadows Fall | |||
Shadows Fall chronology | ||||
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Singles from Fire from the Sky | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
About.com | |
Allmusic | |
Alternative Press | |
Decibel | |
Metal Injection | |
Outburn Magazine | |
The Phoenix | |
Revolver | |
The NewReview | |
Thrash Magazine |
Fire from the Sky is the seventh and most recent studio album by American heavy metal band Shadows Fall. The album was released on May 15, 2012. The band released the title track as the first single on March 28, 2012, and the opening track, "The Unknown", as the second single on May 2, as well as a lyric video for the song. About a week later, on May 10, the official music video for "The Unknown" was released through Vevo. The video features the band playing in an abandoned warehouse. The album debuted at position no. 38 on the Billboard 200. It also debuted at number 85 in Canada.
Themes explored in Fire from the Sky include the apocalypse, chaos, doomsday, and the supposed events that may occur at the end of 2012, the end of the Mayan calendar. Brian Fair made the following comment:
Fire From the Sky is not a concept album by any means, but a few common themes do link these songs together. These days, the world seems to be spiraling out of control into a frantic state of confusion, corruption and chaos. It's as if we are living under the shadow of an impending apocalypse. The songs on this album were inspired by this chaos and the struggle to find answers in these dark days.
All tracks written by Shadows Fall.
The song "The Unknown" is about "the temptation to give into depression instead of fighting it," and is written from the viewpoint of someone who ultimately succumbed to the pressure. "Divide and Conquer" talks about division between people, whether in politics or among friends, and how this division makes it harder to sustain things and come together as one. The only resolution is to work together towards a better future. "Weight of the World" deals with doomsday and the end of the world approaching. It also deals with the rapid growth of technology and concerns of technological singularity.
"Nothing Remains," a '70s rock influenced tune, is about the heroes we have lost that we looked up to. "Fire from the Sky," reminiscent of early '90s death metal such as Morbid Angel, tells the story of a star going supernova and devouring planets. "Save Your Soul" deals with hanging onto unresolved problems. Becoming stuck in the past can eat away at someone, and "letting go" is often easier said than done.