Madness

Madness is the eighth album, on which All That Remains kept metalcore's edge while stepping into broader melody and a modern-rock sonic texture. Released on Razor & Tie in April 2017, produced by Howard Benson, known for many hit records. It's the first album with new bassist Aaron Patrick. It keeps the weight of the earlier records while an intent to open outward shows clearly. Heavy riffs, breakdowns and the contrast of cleans and screams remain, but the songs open in more directions than before. Because the distance between the hard-pushing songs and the ones that put singing forward is large, the album leaves an experimental impression. The opener “Safe House” and the title track were released simultaneously, and the width between them became a talking point. Through songs like “Halo” and “River City,” the close boldly places a cover of Garth Brooks' country song “The Thunder Rolls,” which found unexpected popularity. Even so, at the core are tense guitar and vocals that convey emotion. For anyone tracking the band's changes, a record that reads as an important fork.