Our readers will likely be very familiar with the recent history of Lorna Shore. The reasons for their current level of success should be relatively obvious to anyone who has been paying attention to the trends that are prevalent in modern metal, as their breakout single "To the Hellfire" was a prime example of cramming every possible trope into one crowd-pleasing tune. You can't blame the band for giving people what they want to hear, but each subsequent single has seemingly failed to make the same impact (if the huge disparity in Youtube view counts and Spotify plays is any indication). Any attempt to break away from the formula that blasted them off into the hype-osphere might be too risky at this point, but Lorna Shore clearly wants to spread their wings a bit on their second LP for Century Media, Pain Remains. Unfortunately, every forward step is hampered by a strict adherence to the most regressive aspects of their style.
The songs on Pain Remains are largely composed of the same elements that made up the entire previous EP ...And I Return to Nothingness, and often feature a similar sequence of events: epic symphonic intro, lightning-fast pedal note riff, initial breakdown that precedes the slower chugging. Many of these sections just seem redundant with the band's prior works. If there are any truly new sounds on this album, they are somewhat lost in the exaggerated chaos of the compositions. It's possible that this record offers a few more direct nods to classic black metal tonality than before, but these moments are typically cut short in favor of sugary melodicism or more ultra-dissonant breakdowns.
The most memorable parts of Pain Remains occur when Lorna Shore sticks with one idea long enough to let it properly develop. "Soulless Existence" in particular flows quite naturally and operates at a much more measured pace. "Apotheosis" utilizes hypnotic repetition of its triumphant main riff to great effect, but our inevitable descent into knuckle-dragging territory feels even more forced here than usual. The same could be said of "Wrath", in which distinct black metal minor chords come to a screeching halt for yet another slamfest. These tritone palm-mutes are so consistently gimmicky and interchangeable that they really drag the album down in spite of any slight progression since the last EP. By the time you get to a few admittedly dark riffs and mournful melodies in "Pain Remains III", it feels less like a glorious ending than it should; it's all too little, too late.
Although Pain Remains' production adheres to an expected standard of modernism, its blasted-out mastering job will have you reaching for your volume knob...to turn it down. The mix doesn't fare much better, entire passages of rhythm guitar vanish in favor of overblown synth strings and choir. Lead guitars soar over everything volume-wise, but their silky smooth tone robs them of attack. New bassist Michael Yager's lines are barely noticeable, but that's probably a symptom of the instrument's role in the music itself rather than an engineer error. Effects are plentiful, industry standard, and add little to the actual substance of the tracks. Whenever electronics are combined with orchestral sounds, it is entirely too reminiscent of cheesy action movie trailers ("BRAAAM").
Bottomline: Lorna Shore seems to be reaching for epicness on Pain Remains, but they mostly fall flat due to overindulgence. While the band's stylistic hodgepodge, artificially huge sound, and Will Ramos' incessantly over-the-top vocals are certainly nothing new for their fans, some longtime supporters might still end up preferring a quick jaunt through Pain Remains' singles to the hour-long marathon of the full album. However talented the members of Lorna Shore may be, their over-reliance on cheap tricks is becoming less forgivable with each improvement they make in other areas.
34 comments
Post CommentSmoke these clowns. Glad I won't have to endure them to see aborted.
"Let the dogs bark, It's a sign that we are moving forward"
Just here for the comments . But actually a pretty well written article about a crappy band. Good job !
Deathcore is just a shit stain in metal history.
Deathcore a shit stain? I think you spelled nu metal wrong dude.
Belgium is a blight on the world, first post worst post.
Man you critics hate everything. Movies, and now music yet people like you praise mainstream stuff Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish or even Metallica because they get you f*ckheads money, metal is metal, you like it or you don't like it. If you critics are just like us, fans, but you salty little cry boy fans who would do nothing rather then to tear everyone down to make yourselves feel better. I leave you with this lambgoat.com Lorna Shore rules, f*ck you.
anonymous 6 hours ago Belgium is a blight on the world, first post worst post. You must be obsessed. Speaking about blight, the us can stop importing the best beer and chocolate, stop ruining the English language and exporting your awful societal ideologies and wars to the rest of the world. Go feel ashamed of something, that's what us products are good at. Now piss off
Lol Belgium seething. Didn't Austin Powers teach you anything about how people feel about you guys? Go sniff some Neurosis clone foreskins since your country is only capable of producing that. Nobody wants those anywhere else, so by all means keep importing that US sound.
anonymous 19 hours ago Man you critics hate everything. Movies, and now music yet people like you praise mainstream stuff Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish or even Metallica because they get you f*ckheads money, metal is metal, you like it or you don't like it. If you critics are just like us, fans, but you salty little cry boy fans who would do nothing rather then to tear everyone down to make yourselves feel better. I leave you with this lambgoat.com Lorna Shore rules, f*ck you. LOLOL, one mad fanboy. Some deathcore is good, Lorna Shore is not.
I like that last embedded video with the dude dying in bed. The music is, um, really bad, but deathcore is not at all my thing so take that as you will.
This thread is so toxic, a bunch if nu metal losers here most likely. Go back to listening to your slipknot and leave Lorna Shore for the big boys of Metal. Better yet, go back to your crappy rap music. Lorna shore is awsome. If you are reading this fellow members of Lorna Shore, stay away from these fools in the comments.
Lolol this comment section has so much nu metal losers xD I can tell.
Man you critics hate everything. Movies, and now music yet people like you praise mainstream stuff Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish or even Metallica because they get you f*ckheads money, metal is metal, you like it or you don't like it. If you critics are just like us, fans, but you salty little cry boy fans who would do nothing rather then to tear everyone down to make yourselves feel better. I leave you with this lambgoat.com Lorna Shore rules, f*ck you.
REPEAT THIS EVERYONE WHO LOVES METAL: Man you critics hate everything. Movies, and now music yet people like you praise mainstream stuff Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish or even Metallica because they get you f*ckheads money, metal is metal, you like it or you don't like it. If you critics are just like us, fans, but you salty little cry boy fans who would do nothing rather then to tear everyone down to make yourselves feel better. I leave you with this lambgoat.com Lorna Shore rules, f*ck you.
Comment section neckbeard elitists are the quaint and adorable gift that keeps on giving. Never change. <3
Ok mr neckbeard ^ Enjoy ur slipknot and ur trailer. remember to back up the shitter, sometimes it gets stuck.
This site normally gives out 8s for everything. I'm surprised to see a score so low.
^ Because they are morons who don't appreciate great Metal. They just like mainstream crap like In flames and those kiddy bands.
^Yup true like most of the people on this thread are morons.
The ominous photo of the band is hard to take seriously when their seemingly gender neutral singer has his hair crimped, off to the side, and pink
Lorna Shore blew up this comment section lol. With that said, I don't mind them. I do miss CJ the ass grabbing slut monster though. Hate the player, respect the game. I'm gay.
LOL at Lorna Bore members getting salty over honest opinions
^ Because they are morons who don't appreciate great Metal. They just like mainstream crap like In flames and those kiddy bands. This is the funniest comment I've ever read in everything ever. there's no way this wasn't written by a 14 year old who just found out Slayer last year.
Whoever wrote this review is just simply pissed they aren't Will Ramos. Sorry you suck.
Some bands have some jams but not a full blown discography, some bands don't miss a lick. if you can't take what you like from every sub genre and decide that people are playing what they want or what makes them money, it makes you a bummer to talk to at parties. Appreciating heavy music should supersede shit talking.
What did you expect, it's Luhna Shuh (as pronounced by two dimwit fans I encountered, needless to say a horrifying auditive experience with full overuse of like and vocal fry)