Fallstar have released Sacred Mirrors, a collection of metalcore tracks that builds on the variety of sounds and styles the band brings from their influences.
Portland, OR has gained a bit of notoriety over the past few years, much for its longstanding tradition of challenging traditions and beliefs, so it being the hometown of Fallstar seems fitting in many ways given their punk, metal, and hardcore influences. Fallstar released their label debut Backdraft in 2013 after releasing and ep and their first studio album through Come&Live! In 2011. Following a dispute with their label after release of Backdraft, the band went independent for Future of the Golden Age (2015) and returned to Facedown Records in 2021 with Sunbreather . Sacred Mirrors is the fifth full-length from the band.
The album wastes no time in letting the listener know what is coming. Vocalist Chris Ratzlaff shows off his range in everything from clean melodic vocals for the chorus to death metal growls both deep and high approaching some black metal style. Musically, this falls clearly into the metalcore genre and formula of heavy, screamed vocals with chugging downtuned guitars that leads into a more melodic chorus that is brighter and features clean vocals usually with screamed or growled vocals in the background. At some point, there will be the inevitable breakdown and the song will be complete.
“Insight” opens up a bit differently and the complexity of the guitar lines throughout the track and that they are clear in the mix is a testament to the quality of the production and mixing. Many metalcore albums end up with a mix that presents a wall of sound where individual contributions are difficult to discern, but that is not the case here. The song itself, does follow the general metalcore formula but there is an underlying catchiness to it.
“Sky Symmetry” continues to shake things up a bit with its melodic opening and the song continues in that vein until unexpectedly, it shifts into full metal mode with Chris Ratzlaff’s screamed vocals and heavy guitars and drums leading the song in different direction if for a short time. Cody Carrier’s bass work on this track carry it and becomes apparent in some portions of the song.
“Crooks & the Damned” shows the band heading in a bit of a different direction compared to the previous tracks as the song veers more strongly toward the melodic metal with mostly clean vocals, highlighting Chris Ratzlaff’s versatility. The structure is somewhat an opposite take on metalcore with much of it being melodic and brighter with just some shorter portions going toward the heavier guitar and screamed, growled vocals. The combination of different guitar tones in the song from Bryan Ratzlaff adds a unique element to the song.
“Doomsayer” again presents something a bit different from previous tracks and in some ways sees a return to the regular metalcore formula but in this case the song remains heavy throughout with no respite provided by a clean, soaring chorus. Guitars and drums are heavy and unrelenting in intensity. Definitely one of the heavier songs on the album and one of my favorite tracks even if there is an odd electronic element throughout.
“Eternal Engine (Die Up)” shows the band heading toward rap-metalcore if that’s a thing. Downtuned guitars, electronic effects combined with an ominous bass line and Ratzlaff’s rap delivery make this quite an unexpected track within the album. Bryan Ratzlaff (guitar), Cody Carrier (bass) and Morgan Weisz on drums really shine in bringing this heavy track to life as the music sections are incredibly heavy and pummeling. The intensity doesn’t let up much through “The Persistence of Light” and the rap delivery returns in “Savior Self”.
“Water House” shows the band returning to a more melodic path, closer to how the album opened. Electronic elements to play a key role in the track as does the variety of vocal styles but in the end, the heaviness is more than offset by the melodic, clean chorus sections.
Fallstar have brought a collection of different elements and song structures together in the tracks on Sacred Mirrors and for many of the tracks, this works out great but unfortunately, some of them fall a bit into the trap of being too formulaic and predictable. I will say this is one of the adventurous takes on metalcore I’ve heard in a while and not being a fan of the genre, there was a lot I liked on the album, so it’s definitely worth checking out.
Rating: 7.5/10
Written by John Jackson
Tracklist
- Timebender & the Jet Engine
- Insight
- Sky Symmetry
- Crooks & the Damned (ft. Austin Visser)
- Doomsayer
- xSCARZx
- Screaming Through the Walls
- Dischordia
- Eternal Engine (Die Up)
- The Persistence of Light
- Savior Self
- Water House
Band Members
Chris Ratzlaff – Vocals
Bryan Ratzlaff – Guitar,
Cody Carrier – Bass
Morgan Weisz – Drums
Release Date: 14 July 2023
Record Label: Facedown Records
Weblinks: Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Spotify
Lyric video for “Doomsayer”
Video for “Timebender & the Jet Engine”
Video for “Insight”:
Video for “Crooks & the Damned”
Video for “Sky Symmetry”