The album opens with ‘Permanence’ an intro that quickly evolves into ‘A Broken Reflection.’ What we hear is that even though it’s almost a completely new line-up, this As I Lay Dying still sounds like As I Lay Dying. Tim who unbinds his demons and Ryan who does an excellent job on the clean vocals sections. This song breaths As I Lay Dying. ‘Burden’ is the song to say “hello, we’re back”. As I Lay Dying is back to do business and picks it up we’re they left it with ‘Shaped By Fire’ with an excellent Ryan Neff on the clean vocals. ‘We Are The Dead’ is a little weird for me because of the guest appearance of 2 guys we all knew in the core business. Alex Terrible from Slaughter To Prevail and Tom Barber from Chelsea Grin. Not a bad song, but I have the idea that you don’t mix metalcore with deathcore, so quickly on to the next. ‘Whitewashed Tomb’ is a melodic piece of resistance with great riff work and an always awesome Ryan Neff with a catchy chorus. ‘Through Storms Ahead’ shows us Tim Lambesis still has an awesome voice even after all these years.

‘The Void Within’ picks up its game with a more brutal song and ‘Strength To Survive’ gives colour to their more melodic side but with enough punch to stay brutal. Near the end, we get more of the same. As I Lay Dying fans doesn’t have to be concerned, cause As I Lay Dying still sounds as themselves. Proof is the song ‘Gears That Never Stop.’ Near the end we have 2 power songs left called ‘The Cave We Fear To Enter’ and ‘Taken From Nothing.’ Nothing special on this album, just pure As I Lay Dying. 

This really is a very solid album, it sounds as As I Lay Dying as it gets. And while not every track is something special, there are also not really any weak tracks. Too bad the album came out surrounded by so much negative news with the whole band except for Tim leaving and cancelling the European tour they were about to embark on. This was supposed to be the second coming of a legendary metalcore band, instead there are a lot of things rather unsure.

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