Lorna Shore is back to spread its rage.
Since their last EP released in 2021, the American band formed in 2010 stirs up its fans. In 2022, Adam De Micco (guitar), Will Ramos (vocals), Andrew O’Connor (guitar), Austin Archey (drums) and Michael Yager (bass) announced the release of Pain Remains, their fourth album, through Century Media Records.
The album opens with Welcome Back, O’ Sleeping Dreamer and its melancholic introduction which leads to a majestic mix of orchestrations and choirs, before letting raw violence and screams strike. The aggressive jerky rhythmic crushes us under its heaviness which perfectly serves wild vocal parts while bringing an epic dimension, including during this frantic solo or the massive final, then Into The Earth quickly goes back to raw and vivid tones. Once again, orchestrations offer an interesting contrast with the moshparts’ devastating strength, then Sun//Eater finally allows us to breathe with a soft introduction. More aggressive elements will soon charge back, letting crushing breaks answer to fast riffs just like on Cursed To Die and its heady melodies. The band skillfully mixes violence with leads, developing new influences within their music, but the massive Deathcore basis is still present until the final, which leads us to Soulless Existence, a softer and more soaring track despite rage and heaviness. If the drums remain just as energetic, we notice that the airy keyboards give it a completely different identity. Leads also offer soft but intense influences, then Apotheosis reveals an impressive, dark and oppressive aspect before letting rage express itself. The contrast between heaviness and orchestration the band develops is overpowering again, just like on Wrath and its aggressive sounds which perfectly match the tracks’ name. Wild leads, raging rhythmic and devastating vocals take turns to give us our fix of violence before this abysmal end.
The last part of the album, composed of three tracks, must be listened as one, and we begin with Pain Remains I: Dancing Like Flames. The track has already been referred to as « the soothing Deathcore ballad that everyone should listen to », and it is true that the melancholic and airy sounds perfectly blend with the vocals’ rage and intensity, which continue on Pain Remains II: After All I’ve Done I’ll Disappear, revealing darker and more disturbing sounds. The rhythmic also becomes heavier and more oppressive, letting leads bring that soaring touch, then the epic final allows us to breathe before Pain Remains III: In a Sea of Fire, puts the final touch to this tryptic with intense riffs. The track is long, and it allows the band to spread all its wide influences to close the album in the best possible way.
Lorna Shore has not just released a new album, the band has created the highlight of their career. The recipe may be simple and identical on each track, but Pain Remains is still a condensed version of diversified riffs and apocalyptic atmospheres.
95/100