Review of Fear My Thoughts - The Great Collapse

Germany’s Fear My Thoughts play an accessible brand of melodic death/metalcore that at upon first listen offers nothing new. The experimental leanings of their previous release V.I.T.R.I.O.L have been replaced by far more traditional influences. All the usual suspects are referenced. At The Gates tinged groove, In Flames inspired melodies, and sweeping chord progressions that pay homage to American metalcore forbearers Shai Hulud and Poison the Well. And, while this band may not delve into unfamiliar depths for inspiration, the manner in which they present their influences is very endearing They've carved a special little niche in which only The Great Collapse seems to reside.

The crystal clear melodies of the album’s intro “Velvet” are quickly laid to waste by the title track. One thing is made boldly apparent as soon as the opening chords of The Great Collapse begin to resonate; this album has one hell of a guitar tone. It's chunkier then that kid in middle school who always wanted to trade lunches, but still sharp enough as not to muddy Fear My Thoughts' tight riffing. This works to the band's advantage, as a majority of the tracks on The Great Collapse display the band's various influences within a few moments. “Sirens Song" starts as a total Gothen-romp, only to set the table for some immense breakdowns. The transition is seamless. The intensity of the breakdowns is tangible, yet not forced upon the listener in the least bit. “Hollow Inside” starts off with a strong pentatonic groove shortly followed by a melodic interlude which is set against what I can only assume is the sound of someone taking a massive bong rip. It’s a little hokey, and would probably annoy me a hell of a lot more if the song wasn’t so damned catchy. “Mission Immorality” is more indicative of some of the band’s American influences. The interplay between the driving chord progression and lush melodic intervals eventually culminates in a crescendo that sounds like it could have come straight off Poison The Well's The Opposite of December, right down to the vocals. The following track “Norm AD” is unabashed At the Gates worship. It’s all about the groove, and if you’re not sick of that kind of thing, then this song is a total crusher. The album’s closer starts off in familiar fashion, with some melodic riffing a la Colony era In Flame. It's solid, but starts to get boring rather quick. Fortunately the band switches it up around the 3 minute mark, gracefully bringing the album to a close with a somber piano outro.

Along with their massive guitar tone, Fear My Thoughts' strongest asset is easily their songwriting. The band seems to be aware of when certain ideas are becoming stale and has a knack for making tasteful transitions that don’t come off as pretentious. The band also appears unafraid to take risks with their compositions. As a result, they are able to craft songs that leave their own lasting impressions, something that so many melodic death/metalcore bands fail so miserably at. This album, however, is not for everyone. While the packaging may be genius in design, the contents held within are quickly becoming old hat to most listeners. If you’re sick of At the Gates styled riffing, and the occasional break down, then you're out of luck, as both play a significant role in this band’s arsenal. Fan's of the V.I.T.R.I.O.L and its grand soundscapes may also be disappointed with The Great Collapse, as many of those elements have been abandoned in favor of a more streamlined sound. But, for those of you who fancy yourself fans of this genre, but grow weary of traditional song structures and predictable hooks, then this album may be just what you’re looking for.

Release Details

Fear My Thoughts

The Great Collapse

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