“Shadows Are Security” is in the meantime already the third full length album of this San Diego based metalcore quintet and their second on Metal Blade Records. While the opening track “Meaning In Tragedy” again displays the typical Gothenburg (think At The Gates) influences, with its melodic guitar riffs and heavy vocal onslaught, the rest of the album is much more thrash oriented. Pounding and driven drums are combined with chugging guitar riffs and excellent grunting vocals (although some emo type choruses are present too) while still maintaining a fine balance between aggression and melody.

The strongest part of As I Lay Dying’s music is the direct approach of the songs; they are compact and right to the point.

This no nonsense approach gives the album a very compact feeling and the odd 45 minutes are over before you really notice it. Add to that an excellent production with a sound that’s right in your face and you have a very convincing package to say the least.

“Shadows Are Security” might not be appreciated by everyone out there, due to its incorporation of some non metal elements, but it sure as hell has convinced me that As I Lay Dying have a very bright future ahead of them. Excellent riffs, great vocals, personal lyrics, a killer sound and metal to the core. What more do you want?