Finnish melodic death/groove metal outfit FALLING FROM GRACE is back with a bang, unleashing their second full-length album “At The Edge” via Inverse Records. Following their 2020 debut “Shattered,” the new record marks a heavier and more intense chapter in the band’s journey — and it’s available for streaming now across all major platforms. “At The Edge” lives up to its name, thematically revolving around the harrowing experience of being pushed to life’s breaking point. Lyrically, the band continues to explore the darker shades of the human condition, but this time they’ve also thrown in some sharp commentary on the state of the world today. It’s a raw and honest portrayal of despair — but with a bold musical edge.”

The album has ten songs, and the title track is first. The sound that spews forth is a controlled chaos. It’s aggressive, and contentious, with filthy harsh vocals and groovy riffs, but the band maintains control with every step. “Downfall” comes at you like a rabid dog, with a heavy riff and a filled in background. The riffs are the key here, as is often the case in the genre. They are both groovy and catchy. “Egoistic” has a slower and more punishing grind to it, with a riff that keys on the open E chord. It plods forward with a good deal of energy that seems to only grow as the song lengthens. “Crawling Back to the Dark” has that despair that the band talks about wrapped up into a ball of anger, and the two emotions can often be used interchangeably.  Each beat of the drums and each strike of the guitar reverberates in your soul.

“The Abyss’ is the first single released ahead of the album, and it’s a great representation of the heavily structured sound. If the harsh vocals don’t succeed in beating you over the head, the riffs will for sure. “Shadow” has a dark quality to it, indeed. It reminds me of all the nefarious things that could be hidden in the darker places of the world, and how uncovering them is something you just don’t want to do. “Revolt Unleashed” features tense tones that remind of an approaching storm, and when they deluge hits, it hits hard and rages with fury. “The Creator” is the final song, and it brings some solemn melodies along with it. But don’t mistake it for a let-down, because the brutality and weight of the song is right in line with the others on the album.

This album was an excellent listening experience. It had many of the elements that Metalheads crave, including aggressiveness, weight, and even some thick grooves. The riffs were catchy, the harsh vocals were thick and lively, and the entire album had a lot of energy. This is definitely a band to keep an eye on.