Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram

SHADOWS FALL’s “The War Within” Variant Vinyl Reissue Out Jan 12th

November 17, 2023
While we released a limited Record Store Day pressing of SHADOWS FALL’s popular ‘The War Within’ last April, demand continues and many fans were left struggling to find a copy. Next year, January 12th to be exact, we’re pleased to present a 20th Anniversary limited variant vinyl version (this time on red/grey swirl) that will be available to all retailers as well as through Bandcamp and our label site’s webstore where pre-orders are going on now (www.m-theoryaudio.com/store). You won’t want to miss this second opportunity to pick up a copy of the classic and well-regarded album, especially as it’s limited to just 500 copies with no plans for a future represses. The reissue came out really nice featuring expanded packaging, designed by original A+R guy Tom Bejgrowicz (Misfits, Beastie Boys, Bad Brains), including an 8-page LP sized insert featuring liner notes, extra photos and interviews with every band member. “Still blows my mind that we are celebrating two decades since the release of ‘The War Within.’ This record changed everything for us as a band and to me was a major step towards creating the music we had always wanted to hear. It showcases everything we do well as a band and balances all of the influences we had at the time,” states singer Brian Fair.  “As an obsessive collector of vinyl myself, I am very excited about a new color variant of the vinyl reissue!  This will be dropping January 12th, 2024 so pre-order now or plan on grabbing one at your favorite local record store.  There is nothing more metal than literally carving the music into the surface of an object with a blade so grab a copy of ‘The War Within’ on vinyl and crank it as metal was meant to be listened to!”  To celebrate the anniversary SHADOWS FALL have a special headliner anniversary March 16th at The Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ. Additionally, the band have already been announced for next year’s Welcome to Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, FL performing May 12th a day which also includes performances by Slipknot, Evanescence, Black Veil Brides, Sum 41, Atreyu, Fear Factory and more. SHADOWS FALL are the famed originators of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal alongside Lamb of God and Killswitch Engage. Upon its original release ‘The War Within’ entered the Billboard charts at #20 and has sold well over 400,000 units. The band were nominated for a Grammy for Best Metal Performance and featured on Guitar Hero 2. Four music videos were released from the album, including “Enlighted by the Cold,” “What Drives the Weak,” “The Power of I and I,” and “Inspiration on Demand.” Touring for the album included OzzFest, tours with Slipknot and Lamb Of God and headliners with support from DamagePlan, The Haunted, Candiria, All That Remains, and As I Lay Dying. Praised by Metal Hammer for “mixing metalcore sensibilities with classic metal motifs,” SHADOWS FALL was founded 25 years ago by guitarists Jon Donais (currently the lead guitarist of thrash legends Anthrax) and Matt Bachand (Act of Defiance, Living Wreckage). Soon after the group released their debut album – which featured future All That Remains vocalist Phil Labonte – in 1997, Brian Fair (ex-Overcast) was recruited to be the group’s new front man. After a year’s worth of live shows together, the band entered Massachusetts’ Planet Z Studios with producer Zeuss (Hatebreed, Madball) to record what would become a seminal album in the burgeoning New Wave of American Heavy Metal movement. Influenced in equal parts by classic Bay Area thrash, Scandinavian melodic death and New England hardcore, ‘Of One Blood’ ushered in a new era for metal that emphasized heaviness, hooks and taut musicianship. AllMusic.com applauded the record for its “unique blend of thrash backbone, progressive metal precision and classic metal influences.” To support the album, the group toured extensively alongside the likes of Hatebreed, In Flames, Converge, Lamb of God and Unearth, in addition to sharing festival stages with Pantera and Slayer. ‘Of One Blood’ set the stage for the band to achieve additional success on their subsequent release, 2002’s ‘The Art of Balance,’ which saw the group join Ozzy Osbourne’s Ozzfest tour en route to selling more than 250,000 copies. From there, the band cracked the Billboard Top 20 with 2004’s ‘The War Within’ – which sold more than 400,000 copies and earned the band its first Grammy nomination – before signing with Atlantic Records for the release of 2007’s ‘Threads of Life,’ which saw the band receive a second Grammy nomination. Two more acclaimed albums followed before Donais was invited to join Anthrax in 2013, a move which would eventually cause SHADOWS FALL to go on indefinite hiatus. Until a 20th Anniversary reissue of ‘Of One Blood’ brought back memories and offers presented themself to the group, who have since held special performances at Furnace Fest, Blue Ridge Rock Festival, New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, Milwaukee Metal Fest, and the inaugural Headbangers Boat cruise. For more info:www.m-theoryaudio.comwww.facebook.com/shadowsfallwww.instagram.com/shadowsfallband

Ultimate Classic Rock

Backstageaxxess.com is independently run and was created in 2009 by CEO David “Gus” Griesinger and his team of talented professionals from around the globe, to bring you closer to the bands you love. Featuring in-depth interviews with today’s hottest Artists, CD & Concert reviews, exclusive photos, and the latest music news, our goal is to bring you the most current, entertaining and complete coverage of any music site on the web today.