Following on from 2021 debut full-length Blackhole, Cleveland natives Along Came a Spider have opted for concept over commercialism on The Fall. The band’s first album in three years is also their first on Manic Kat Records.
The concept album charts the plight of an emotionally abusive relationship. Throughout, the narrator touches on the human instincts of not wanting to be alone and how intense passion can sometimes be mistaken for deeper love. The tracks tackle the difficult subject matter with candor and openness, with the sonic accompaniment matching the thematic volatility stroke for stroke.
From the ominous opening moments of piano led “The Fall,” Along Came a Spider drill down on a sense of futility. The inescapable black hole of a union that continues to deteriorate.
Parts of the opener, as well as lead single “Let Go,” are as heavy as Along Came a Spider have ever delved, but with “Apocalypse,” they strike a quicker, more melodic line with Coheed and Cambria like vivacity. Elsewhere, the haunting intent of “Back to Sleep” twists and turns with a soft but slow menace, though never really gets out of third gear.
Conversely, Instant classic “Morning Sun” is a cascading fist raiser, harking to the glory days of the 2010s with a gripping, arena ready anthem, full of character and intrigue.
With closer “Halo,” the album comes full-circle, with a glimmer of hope beginning to shine through from the depths of despair in the story. Simultaneously, the band nail their instrumental assignments, drawing us into a cascading close.
The Fall shows plenty of Along Came a Spider’s high upside. Their attempt to deliver a highly impactful and resonating story flourishes when they commit to the weight of the guitars and vocalist Jamei Miller’s poignant storytelling. Too often however, they deviate from the pace and prowess of the unit and negate to deliver the raw, unbridled metalcore that the storyline called for.
