The long awaited "Pain Remains" by LORNA SHORE is finally here! This is the first full length album from the New Jersey deathcore band since lead vocalist Will Ramos joined in summer of last year. Since then, the band has been rapidly gaining popularity online and has even sold out over half of their shows on their US tour. We've been teased with singles since early May, starting with "Sun//Eater" leaving fans excited for more. So let's break down (pun intended) this highly anticipated album. No time is wasted hailing listeners into this album with the 7 ½ minute intro track "Welcome Back, O' Sleeping", which perfectly sets the scene for this album with operatic aria singing that quickly melds into that guttural voice we have already come to recognize from Will and carries you on a symphonic high until it closes out in the same melodic chant we came in with.

By now you've probably heard the next three tracks, as they were the singles referred to earlier in this review. "Into the Earth" begins heavy with the rapid fire blast beats from the drums that perfectly support the shrieked scream-singing throughout perfectly placed moments of symphony. "Sun//Eater" was our first taste of this album, but hearing it in it's consecutive order will make you feel like you are hearing it again for the first time. Unlike the first two tracks- this one starts light, almost weightless, building up for spitting vocals turned into monstrous growls, ending with a spine chilling transition into "Cursed to Die". The production of this track perfectly closes the trio of singles by peppering in a little taste of everything we've heard so far.

As we get into the back half of the album we are introduced to more new songs- "Soulless Existence" works as a cinematic break in the album giving us a moment to breathe from the visceral instrumentals, allowing appreciate Ramos' dedication to lyricism, the eerie guitar riffs, and textured layers of each song. It's a short break before we are right back into the heat of the fire with "Apotheosis" (cleverly titled as this is defined as "the highest point in development of something"), which perfectly says every you need to know about this track. Every member has put their all into this song to give you the perfect dose of what this band is about. It couldn't be deathcore without a mention of "Wrath", brought in with a hellish vocal fry met with deeper, bass blast beats before you hear the scream of guitar in an echoing release before the song ends with a filthy snarl into silence.

Deep breath and a moment of calming rain, we've reached the star trilogy of the album. If you have been stalking this full release like I have- the next two tracks are going to be familiar, but again- we now have it in progression and it's going to rip your heart out. "Pain Remains I- Dancing Like Flames" is completely different from any song we've heard thus far. Seconds in you experience a whole new realm of emotions, a beautiful tale of heartbreak and loss captured in brutal pain. The poetic close of this song will leave you in chills as it seamlessly moves into "Pain Remains II- After All I've Done, I'll Disappear". Just like the grief of loss in love, this song focuses on the challenge of moving on and living in the pain.

This track picks back up on the rapid drum hits and harsh vocals before we are met again with the solace of drippy guitar riffs and symphonic violin chords that take us into the final track "Pain Remains III- In a Sea of Fire". Picking up where Pain Remains II left us (shattered) we hear the chords drawing out on the pain of the story, leading to the final orchestral explosion of the longest track of the album. A full nine minutes of seething instrumentals layered with lyrics of letting go, we hear references of shackles and "being drowned in a sea of flames". Seven and a half minutes in, you think it's ended but we get one final passionate burst of screams before we are dismissed with crackling sounds of burning embers.

Though quite boisterous and lengthy, "Pain Remains" is the cleansing fire of rebirth that deathcore needed. Even after hearing the string of singles, this album is a must listen from beginning to end to appreciate the full scope of all that goes into it. The stories told, the production of sound, and the transition from one song to the next will leave you in awe of this poetic yet bestial album and ready to experience it all again.