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As we approach the end of the year, there is nothing left unsaid about the global metal phenomenon that is Lorna Shore. Their turbulent past and rapid rise to fame have become a daily topic and common knowledge, further fueled by the relentless promotional cycle and touring schedule in recent months. Their spectacular 2021 EP set the stage for one of the unrivaled events of 2022, and through blood, sweat, and tears (and flames) finally comes Pain Remains, one of the most eagerly anticipated releases across the entire scene, their fourth full studio record, and first as the acting leaders of the modern deatchore revival.
Lorna Shore became the center of attention almost overnight but ever since their short but masterful ...And I Return To Notingness EP premiered to universal acclaim, the biggest question has been what comes next. The logical and pragmatic way forward was following the formula and capitalising on the upheaval they caused across the genre, with the first few singles this year all but confirming this. And just like that, the 'Pain Remains' audio-visual trilogy saw Lorna Shore evolve into an uncontainable force of nature, both majestic and terrifying, causing an extreme emotional wreckage previously unseen at this level.
Straight upon its release, there already are hundreds of reviewers praising Pain Remains as the undoubted album of the year, proclaiming Lorna Shore as the greatest band of all times, with half of them making up their mind even before hearing the entire record. Simultaneously, there is a noticeable number of people dismissing them as the most overhyped act on the planet. As extreme as this is, fittingly for the musical and lyrical extremes on display here, I am inclined to say there is an equal amount of truth and exaggeration in both opposites, and this is exactly what such star power brings along.
To put it simply, Lorna Shore is a gateway deathcore for people who don't listen to deathcore. This is exactly what I love about them and also why they stood out so dominantly above the rest, but it is also why many subculture gatekeepers hate on them. There is no denial that the outside influences in this "new" Lorna Shore opus transforms it into an instant classic worthy of the spotlight. It's no secret that they employ conventional pop structures and also blend metalcore riffs and nuances within the expected deathcore tropes, but above all, it is the subtle melodic death foundation and sensibilities that often get ignored, but make Pain Remains such an examplary modern metal masterpiece.
The main focus in recent years has been at Will Ramos, and although his addition arguably elevated Lorna Shore to a whole new level with his phenomenal range and personality, the insane amount of talent flowing through their ranks cannot be neglected. Adam De Micco and Andrew O'Connor easily form one of the finest contemporary metal guitar duos, pouring their souls into writing and refining Pain Remains; Austin Archey is a beast and without a doubt amongst the greatest modern drummers; last but not least, Michael Yager is not only a fantastic bass player, but his ability to cover Archey with such ease when needed is mind-blowing. Again, with such star power, creative versatility and brutal honesty working in perfect harmony, the spectacular result and mass obsession are hardly surprising.
Put aside the creative talents and seamless blending of outside influences, Lorna Shore become victims of their own artistic mastery. Pain Remains begins in spectacular fashion with 'Welcome Back, O' Sleeping Dreamer', displaying all of their signature traits in blistering succession. Apocalyptic orchestration and epic choral arrangements pave the way to a relentless mixture of growls, riffs and blasts; section upon section framed with destructive breakdowns, each more extreme than the previous, with his infernal majesty Will Ramos crushing our souls in flawless Orcish to celebrate the rise of his abyssal legions.
And just like that, having heard this one 7 minute-long demonic anthem, you have heard almost the entire record. When a band consistently achieves such epicness and keeps on raising the bar with each release, it inevitably begins to suffer from diminishing returns. Lorna Shore could definitely do with a bit of a "less is more" approach to maintain their relevance in the future. For every moment of musical grandeur and instrumental masterclass, there is a dull section of familiar shock factors, recycled for the sake of the extreme. One could argue that some tracks could be trimmed, and others don't really need three separate breakdowns, having already heard all of this in ...And I Return to Notingness.
For me, 'Cursed to Die' easily stands above the rest as the singular climax that also strays the furthest away from the cliches, for a truly majestic and perfectly balanced result. And before all deathcore connoisseurs and guitar nerds come at me for this blasphemous ingornace, it is not all about radical shortening of otherwise well-composed songs, or adding unnecessary embelishment without respecting the roots, but about the fine details. And when Lorna Shore get those nuances right, they are a force to be reckoned with.
I have already said that my deep respect and appreciation for Lorna Shore don't stem from their genre origin, but for leading their contemporaries out of the dark ages. I am not and will not become a deathcore fan now, so maybe my opinion here doesn't even matter. Either way, I am convinced the final 'Pain Remains' trilogy elevates the entire record to a true legendary level. The result could have been the same (if not even better) if this was another separate 3-track EP, but either way this beautiful symphony of loss, destruction, heartbreak, depression, and even hope, shines so brightly above the rest that it burns.
With every part of that triumvirate of passionate expressiveness, Lorna Shore nail theese fine nuances in spectacular fashion. From the surprising whispers, heartbreaking growls and perfectly placed solos in 'I: Dancing Like Flames', through the uncontainable build-ups and subtle key changes in 'II: After All I've Done, I'll Disappear', all the way to the epic finale and genius return to main theme in 'III: In A Sea of Fire'. One could argue that this trilogy would not have had the same impact without the visual brilliance of David Brodsky, but either way, it is Lorna Shore at their absolute best, and one I hope to see more of in the future.
I find it hard to give a final verdict of such divisive album. For me, this is far from 2022's album of the year, and yet it is the one record everyone must listen to. It contains several repetative and formulated tracks, and also boasts some of the greatest compositions we have heard in decades. It is as surprising as it is predictable, with equally extreme polarities dividing every aspect of the modern metal classic that is Pain Remains. And somehow, without even caring about the genre, or being in awe of the entire record, I cannot help but love everything Lorna Shore have done here.
Lorna Shore - Pain Remains
Country: USA (NJ)
Released: 14 October 2022
Label: Century Media
Tracklisting:
01. 'Welcome Back, O' Sleeping Dreamer'
02. 'Into The Earth'
03. 'Sun//Eater'
04. 'Cursed To Die'
05. 'Soulless Existence'
06. 'Apotheosis'
07. 'Wrath'
08. 'Pain Remains I: Dancing Like Flames'
09. 'Pain Remains II: After All I've Done, I'll Disappear'
10. 'Pain Remains III: In a Sea of Fire'
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