The Order of Things is an appropriate album name for one that clearly has its best song first; it's almost as if "This Probably Won't End Well" were foreshadowing the rest of the album. The track starts out as an appropriately radio-ready follow-up to "Two Weeks" until the line, "And all I can think, you look good when you're angry" sours the song.
If you're able forget that line, the lead single is a little like Pop Rocks: sugary sweet, yes, but just explosive enough. Unfortunately, like much of All That Remains' career, it's hard to get rid of the bad taste resultant of vocalist Phil Labonte's ham-fisted proclamations. Though not as cringe-worthy, the supposedly self-aware "Tru-Kvlt-Metal" is definitely worthy of some face-palming. There's something facilely self-referential about singing a very formulaic metal song about not wanting to make formulaic metal. Still, the case here is definitely not irony; it's an attack on the band's detractors, who want The Fall of Ideals 2.0. However, maybe it's best that they laid off the screaming, as the heaviest song on the album, extended breakdown "No Knock," is also the most one-dimensional.
The most fun to be had with The Order of Things is by imagining the yearning lyrics — example: "Remember what made us great" — are about the band's decline. All That Remains here is a "metal" band with less gusto than some pop-punk ones.
(Razor & Tie)If you're able forget that line, the lead single is a little like Pop Rocks: sugary sweet, yes, but just explosive enough. Unfortunately, like much of All That Remains' career, it's hard to get rid of the bad taste resultant of vocalist Phil Labonte's ham-fisted proclamations. Though not as cringe-worthy, the supposedly self-aware "Tru-Kvlt-Metal" is definitely worthy of some face-palming. There's something facilely self-referential about singing a very formulaic metal song about not wanting to make formulaic metal. Still, the case here is definitely not irony; it's an attack on the band's detractors, who want The Fall of Ideals 2.0. However, maybe it's best that they laid off the screaming, as the heaviest song on the album, extended breakdown "No Knock," is also the most one-dimensional.
The most fun to be had with The Order of Things is by imagining the yearning lyrics — example: "Remember what made us great" — are about the band's decline. All That Remains here is a "metal" band with less gusto than some pop-punk ones.