In Fear – All Is (2023)
Phil Spector’s “wall of noise” philosophy was a groundbreaking production technique, and it had a massive influence for years. Metal’s “wall of noise” philosophy is less about creating a sound collage encouraging multiple listens and more a contest of whose album is the most aggressive, full-throttle experience. Thankfully, In Fear does not join that contest. On their latest single, ‘All Is’ they combine clean vocals with some fearsome dirty vocals to great effect, and the guitars and drums add ferocity without the whole being overwhelming.
As any self-respecting metal song should, ‘All Is’ starts with a roar of “Blood!” The lyrics are classic concern-your-mother material: gateways to freedom or death, souls fading away, hate, fear, and lords of darkness. In Fear take the standard motifs of heavy music and create a memorable word picture: coming to consciousness in a dark place, tasting blood, despairing and begging for a reckoning from a lord of darkness, who lifts your head and fills you with its malice and fear, and you realise all is hell. It’s an effective and unsettling song – exactly what In Fear intended if you couldn’t tell from their name.
Lyrics aside, the vocals are the highlight here. The clean vocals create some good texture in such an aggressive song, but they don’t feel quite as powerful or as self-assured as they might be, though considering the lyrical content that certainly could be a stylistic choice. The unclean vocals are monstrous; the vocalist hits some nearly blackened highs and guttural lows with little effort. Although a highlight, the vocals do not take away from the instruments, which are just as intense and exciting. The guitar riffs show the prowess of many years, both in technical ability and riff composition. The drums serve the song extremely well, and while they do not have a moment to shine as brightly as the guitars or vocals in ‘All Is’, they are the backbone of the single and drive it home in lockstep, the unsung hero.
In Fear’s single ‘All Is’ is all fun and harrowing to listen to at the same time. All the best metal songs are. Here’s to more from the Bristol quintet, who have already played Tech-Fest and toured with Creak, Where Oceans Burn, and Dreameater. It’s only up from here: In Fear has everything they need to become one of the biggest bands in the metal scene.
For more from In Fear, check out their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
