by Andy Hinds

All That Remains combines the throat-tearing vocals and whiplash tempos of '90s-style grindcore with a dual-guitar melodicism and musicality that can be traced back to early Iron Maiden. Philip Labonte's Max Cavalera-esque vocal style renders most of the words unintelligible, but a scan of the lyric sheet reveals not the usual quasi-satanic death metal stuff, but surprisingly heartfelt meditations on fate, longing, and lost dreams. This, along with the sensuous cover art (not to mention the band's name), lends a sort of gothic aura to the proceedings -- which in turn helps to distinguish All That Remains from its gore-obsessed peers.