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SHADOWS FALL Dropped By ROADRUNNER In Europe; U.S. Deal On Shaky Ground
- Oct. 15, 2008
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Massachusetts metallers SHADOWS FALL are rumored to have lost their European record deal with Roadrunner Records, which released the band's latest effort, "Threads of Life". The group's U.S. deal with Atlantic Records is also said to be on shaky ground, with "Threads of Life" having only shifted around 98,000 copies in the United States since its April 2007 release — a fraction of the 308,000 sales total achieved by its predecessor, 2004's "The War Within", which was released by Century Media. In a June 2006 interview with MTV.com, SHADOWS FALL singer Brian Fair spoke about jumping ship from Century Media Records to Atlantic for the band's most recent studio effort. "We were friends with [the folks at Century Media] before we signed with the label, and they definitely went above and beyond what we thought an indie label could possibly do," he said. "They did offer us a great deal [to stay with the company before we signed with Atlantic], but we wanted to ... see if we could take it to another level. . . It was a tough decision [to sign with Atlantic], but one we felt we really needed to make. We've been together 10 years, so we came with a contract and we knew exactly what we wanted. If people weren't into that initial thing, we knew we could cut them off right away. We weren't settling. We were brutally honest right at the beginning, and it stopped a lot of those dinners right away." He added, "These labels knew they weren't signing BRITNEY SPEARS. They were just getting a bunch of Masshole metalheads. We were just psyched to get some free pizza and beer." Watch SHADOWS FALL's "Redemption" video (taken from "Threads of Life"):
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COMMENT | Such is life...
posted by :
10/15/2008 1:50:55 PM
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I don't rate this band that much anyway...I mean they're good, but...
It's a hard knock life in the music industry...
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COMMENT | Great...
posted by :
10/15/2008 1:54:25 PM
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And I hope all metalcore bands get dropped by their labels so that shit will disappear once and for all.
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COMMENT | ^^^^...hey puto!
posted by :
10/15/2008 2:02:32 PM
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this hardcore/metalcore sound been around for 20 plus yrs...ur just too occupied with waiting for saxon/manowar too come back into style.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
10/15/2008 2:02:42 PM
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I think Threads Of Life wasn't spectacular and that reflected in the sales of the record. When you at a band like Machine Head who also got dropped Roadrunner they knew that they had to regroup and up there game. Shadows Fall need to do something similar even if they don't do what Machine Head did but at the very least try and push there sound and move forward.
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COMMENT | Well Brian
posted by : Blindgreed1
10/15/2008 2:04:26 PM
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You certainly took it to "another level". A lower level, but another level just the same. Have another slice and a pint on me.
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COMMENT | too funny
posted by : blackfarted
10/15/2008 2:09:39 PM
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only 98,000 sold in over a year? Wow...
what do they do now?
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COMMENT | Who cares ??
posted by : JJJB
10/15/2008 2:10:55 PM
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When's the new Nickelback coming out ???
Bwahahahahahahahaha !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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COMMENT | Not Suprised at all
posted by : MeanMike
10/15/2008 2:16:29 PM
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I guess they spent a lot on Shadowsfall, seeing Caliban is still signed. Roadrun hasn't had a successful metalcore band since Killswitch Engage.
Atlantic Records should get out of selling metal albums. This is the same effect that Poison the Well had, I am sure they will be on Ferret Records soon it suits them.
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COMMENT | heres the reason
posted by :
10/15/2008 2:16:40 PM
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Just like ac/dc has an "ac/dc" sound, and most of their sound rocks, shadows fall has no identity to their music whatsoever. When was the last time you thought to yourself, "Oh, I feel like listening to a Shadows Fall song."?
The bottom line is this, Threads of Life was a major disappointment, it sounded like songs left off of The War Within and I enjoyed The War Within!
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COMMENT | Threads of Life...
posted by : Suckasstro
10/15/2008 2:19:29 PM
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was easily their worst CD to date. Their previous two CDs were solid and built up a lot of momentum for them. They capped that off with something so generic and bland that it turned away a lot of fans and seemed to go out of its way to turn non-fans further away from this band. This shit happens, sadly. TheCraigus a few posts up hit it right on the head. Time to tighten up and see what they can do if Shadows Fall wants to continue to be Shadows Fall.
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COMMENT | The War Within...
posted by : tlizzy
10/15/2008 2:27:01 PM
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..got so much next Metallica hype from the twin guitar attack, guitar world press, next James & Kirk, all the way to the battery esque acoustic intro, that people bought into it. Since then, they realized their 2nd rate thrash with no emotion & is no different than any other bunk metal outfit.
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COMMENT |
posted by : alerxstinwonderland
10/15/2008 2:30:57 PM
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Well put PacOJ, there major problem is that they have no identity. There doesn't seem to be a lot of depth or soul to their songs and there's nothing you get from listening to a SF disc that you can't get somewhere else. Back to the drawing board boys!
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COMMENT |
posted by :
10/15/2008 2:33:16 PM
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yeah i'm not a big fan of metalcore but i did like SF but their last album was pretty shit too many whiney melodic parts not enough heavy parts.
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COMMENT | You know what
posted by :
10/15/2008 2:55:05 PM
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I'm willing to bet that there are easily twice as many kids who stole the cd than bought it. Bands like Shadows Fall are getting fucked horribly by illegal downloading, and believe it or not, Sharon Osbourne killing Ozzfest by making it free last year and not taking it on the road this year. Shadows Fall fall were one of the bands that were slated to play in 2007, but were forced to decline because there was no ticket revenue and bands were forced to increase payments and take less of a merch cut. If Shadows Fall would have had a main stage slot last year we might not be hearing this. Look, it doesn't matter wheter or not you like them, think of how many mid level bands in the 80's and succeeded simply because you didn't have the issues today. Peeople, stop stealing or you will do something that the religious right has been trying to do for years. Kill rock 'n roll.
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COMMENT | DOWN WITH THE MAJOR LABELS!!!
posted by : quequeque
10/15/2008 3:10:59 PM
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FUCK EM ALL!! Let the filthy rich pigs live from paycheck to paycheck like the musicians that actually make the music we all enjoy. I'm sick of the fucking money game that rips of the artists. I say SF goes and gets on Ferret and makes a better release than any of the ones for RR.
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COMMENT | mcman71
posted by : Blindgreed1
10/15/2008 3:14:26 PM
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Learn how to communicate more effectively. Your message is important.
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COMMENT | geh
posted by : nyetfall82
10/15/2008 3:35:54 PM
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i hope to god Ferret doesn't touch these guys as a number of posters have mentioned above. Ferret might have a lot of excess weight as a label, but they continue to put out solid hardcore releases. While they've always been good live when I've seen them, their albums have always disappointed me. Vocally, I don't think they have one solid album to date and musically they don't do anything significantly different enough to make them stand out. Hell I live in MA and they've literally always been identifyable as the band with the guy with the dreads since Brian joined.
These guys should go join the rest of the faux metalcore movement at Trustkill.
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COMMENT |
posted by : jackiethefuck
10/15/2008 3:41:47 PM
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They got more boring with each release and added more singing which a lot of people weren't too fond of (me included, I thought it just sounded weak and out of place). They wanted to be rock stars, can't blame 'em, it just didnt work out.
I agree they need to do the machine head route and come out with a more ferocious album than before and re-ignite their career.
Hope it works out for them. But if not, I honestly wouldnt notice they were gone.
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COMMENT | The grass isn't always greener...
posted by : lundtheconqueror
10/15/2008 3:42:49 PM
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..on the other side.
Atlantic tried to make this band sound like another Stone Sour and it tanked.
SF needs to go back to Century and make music they want to,....I'm sure the signing bonuses they got from Atlantic will carry them a long time.
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COMMENT | blah
posted by : J-House
10/15/2008 4:16:16 PM
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They should get Phil back in the band, and put out some sick deathcore like the old days!
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COMMENT | Anyone remember when...
posted by : ~CAIN~
10/15/2008 4:20:26 PM
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Testament signed to Atlantic? Waaaaaayyyyy back when.
Kind of sounds like history is repeating itself.
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COMMENT | It's a combination of everything mentioned
posted by : enyggma
10/15/2008 4:22:10 PM
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I think that there poor sales is a combination of everything you guy shave mentioned so far and then some. I'm sure that illegal downloading played a part in this. Also the economy has been on a downward spiral this past year. A lot of people who buy metal are struggling mid-20s and up people that have families, bills and thanks to gas prices etc less money to put out on music. Back in the day a lot of people would buy a record out of loyalty to a band. This has changed. People can't afford to do that. If the record is weak then people are going to chose to spend their dollars on an artist with a better record. I know that has been the case with me. I don't have a lot of spare dollars to throw at Cds anymore. So when I do buy one I make damn sure it will be worth my dollars and cents. Oh and if the band belongs to a label that is notorious for releasing special editions 6 months later I wait for the special edition. That's you RR!
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COMMENT | Can't they hear themselves being boring?
posted by : tvspat
10/15/2008 4:40:59 PM
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The Art of Balance and War Within were terrific records, but then Threads of Life..what a shit album. Such a letdown.
The problem is their songs all sound the same; same rhythm, same vocal delivery, and not in a good way...you expect these guys to be more creative and write some diverse, memorable, quality stuff...this is not early Napalm Death or Cannibal Corpse here...and yet they just re-hash the same boring shit again and again...
Like In Flames says, you gotta Reroute to Remain...
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COMMENT | blindgreed
posted by :
10/15/2008 4:55:38 PM
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Your right, this is what you get while your posting and half listening to a conference call. Let me put it a different way....
It makes no difference what we think about record companies, especially when all we really is hear is sour grapes from a bunch of whiners about how they didn't sign a good deal. The fact is that the record companies are the ones that have the money to pay for high quality recordings, worldwide distribution, airplay (payola will never die), video shoots and tours. Without record label backing, a band will never get heard out side their region. Actually, in many markets (such as Charlotte NC), you don't even get to play the good clubs if you don't have a label behind you. The fact is that the record labels won't pay to promote a band unless it makes them money. If they lose money on a band there is no reason for them to spend money on that band anymore. It's a bad investment. This is where illegal downloading comes in. By some reports there are around 5 to 6 million people in this country that illegaly download music. About 20% of those people call hard rock and heavy metal music their favorite. Maybe 20-30% of those downloaded Shadows Fall's most recent release. What does look like in real numbers? At least 200,000 downloads. If illegal downloading didn't exist, maybe only half of those kids whoud have bought the cd, but they would have bought it soon after release, and Atlantic would have been justified in spending more money on touring and videos and radio play. That would have resulted in more record sales by default. But since we have so many people that download illegally, we don't see a push for any heavy bands other than Metallica, AC/DC or Slipknot. They are still going to get the 200-300k downloads, but when your selling 2 million it doesn't matter so much. What you idiots don't realize is that Lamb of God should be headlining arenas. A city like Charlotte should be getting 2-3 arena rock shows a month and 2 to three shed shows a week in in the summer time.
Look people, if you stop downloading, this is what will happen.
1. Ticket and merch prices will stabalize and may even drop.
2. You will see more arena and shed shows in your town. Wish you could have seen Iron Maiden, but they didn't bother to come anywhere near you?
3. Since music will be making money again, you will more album commericals, er VIDEOS, on mtv or vh1 and less Flavor of Love spinoffs.
4. There will be more good music available, because it will be profitable again.
I just wish all you people could see this. Think about the consequences of your actions, and what you are missing out because you won't spend a measly 10 bucks for legal cd download.
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COMMENT | Serves them right...
posted by : Traumor
10/15/2008 5:09:32 PM
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...for becoming one of the most cookie-cutter metal-by-numbers bands. They're first album had fantastic songwriting, and then they went to the distillery...
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COMMENT | The GAY-ASS melodic vocals and Chorus are what killed this band
posted by : drewk2
10/15/2008 5:42:19 PM
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Keep the WHOLE SONG singing with the forceful, harsh, and powerful vocals and you will be on the right track again!!!
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COMMENT |
posted by : Opeth_kvlt
10/15/2008 5:48:22 PM
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Shadows Fall put out a hand-full of decent songs like six years ago. They haven't been entertaining or relevant since.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
10/15/2008 5:52:31 PM
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I used to be crazy about this band, but this big label success has kind of made them lazy. They don't tour as much as they used to.
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COMMENT | sucks
posted by :
10/15/2008 5:54:06 PM
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that they are going to get dropped, they'll probably be in debt if they aren't already
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COMMENT |
posted by :
10/15/2008 5:59:39 PM
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Wow, a lot of hate for them here, undeserved I may say, but then look at the comments on the actual 'Threads' review. I often think those with negative attitudes shout the loudest. That said, it wasn't their best at all, but not terrible by any stretch.
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COMMENT | to zxcv345...
posted by : just a metal fan
10/16/2008 1:11:41 AM
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You must have caught Brian at the wrong moment or on an off night, because he is always very cool and a really nice and humble guy. Not always easy being on the road nonstop and having a dumpy club as your 'office'.
Oh, if that was one of the shows where they were to open for A7X, well yes, he may have been annoyed, since that short stint got really screwed up, as a result of A7X canceling the run. Time and money wasted for the Shads! Never a fun deal!
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COMMENT | .....
posted by :
10/16/2008 7:30:38 AM
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Wow, tons of hate.....
nonetheless....SF was never an incredible band. As some other dude mentioned, being from MA it's hard to avoid these guys, they are everywhere. The only member, past or present, I've never met is the new drummer. Every one of them has been very friendly and enthusiastic. I don't mean to be "that guy" who name drops left and right, but I've never once thought of any of them as cocky in the slightest. Jon and Matt have always struck me as the types who are fans of their own band, which is cool as well. Brian's old band, Overcast, is one of my all time faves. I'll be the first to say I'm disappointed that they scrapped Overcast to form a couple shitty metal/metalcore bands (although seemless and transient are great in their own rights). I still own their entire catalog, and was ironically enjoying somber eyes and of one blood this past weekend....
However, and a BIG however, the direction of the past few albums confuses me....
They used to have a sense of urgency and a knack for writing heavy but fun and catchy songs with somewhat complex structures. Somehow they chopped all of that out and wrote a few lackluster albums. I don't blame Atlantic for wanting to drop them. There are many better, more promising acts out there that never got signed and will continue to get overlooked. How SF got picked out of the bunch is beyond me.
And the world doesn't need another metal band right now....
we need bands that push envelopes. in 1995, maybe this could have been SF.
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COMMENT | Signing with RR in the first place was a mistake.
posted by :
10/16/2008 1:01:51 PM
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Don't understand why these guys left Century Media in the first place. It was Century Media who believed in the band enough to sign them and help them to grow back when nobody knew who they were. Not surprised that their record deal with Atlantic here in the U.S. didn't last beyond one album either. If your band is not selling at least 500,000 copies of an album or more then major labels don't give a fuck about you and won't help you out. They should go back to Century Media, who believed in them from the start.
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COMMENT |
posted by : Grusome
10/16/2008 5:25:18 PM
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i liked one song by this band when i heard the war within i was dissapointed and havnt even heard the new album .... from what ive seen im glad i never
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