What makes Decas by As I Lay Dying notable?

Decas debuted at number 27 on the Billboard 200 chart, highlighting its commercial success. The album's blend of new material and remixes garnered attention within the metalcore community, demonstrating the band's ability to evolve their sound while maintaining a strong fanbase. Released on January 1, 2011, Decas served as a transitional project for As I Lay Dying, following their critically acclaimed album The Powerless Rise from 2009. This album not only features original tracks but also remixes and re-recordings, marking a creative exploration at a time when the band was solidifying their presence in the metalcore scene.

Decas works well if you're into dynamic flow with intense peaks, short bursts of high energy and remixed tracks for fresh perspective.

How many songs are on Decas?

Decas has 12 tracks, running approximately 38 minutes.

Decas

As I Lay Dying · 2011

38 min · 12 tracks · metalcore

A fusion of metalcore intensity and electronic remix culture, showcasing grit and innovation in sound.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Paralyzed — The opener sets a powerful tone with aggressive riffs and intense vocals that encapsulate the band's signature style and themes of struggle.
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From Shapeless to Breakable — This track showcases a dynamic range between melodic elements and heavy breakdowns, highlighting the band's versatility within metalcore.
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Beneath the Encasing of Ashes (re-recorded medley) — As a re-recording, this medley connects past and present, allowing listeners to experience classic material with updated production that reflects the band's growth.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

45 /100

Lowland

Higher than 5% of albums we've rated

Decas showcases a blend of original metalcore tracks and remixes, but lacks strong cohesion due to its varied styles.

What we noticed

The first three tracks are original compositions that maintain a consistent metalcore sound, while the subsequent tracks shift to remixes and re-recordings.
The running time is approximately 40 minutes, with the last four tracks being remixes that introduce varying tempos and styles compared to the earlier material.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 4/10

Influence 2/10

Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

dynamic flow with intense peaks
short bursts of high energy
remixed tracks for fresh perspective
an album for active listening

Maybe skip if you

prefer long, cohesive experiences
seek laid-back background music

Where this album fits

Career context: Released on January 1, 2011, Decas served as a transitional project for As I Lay Dying, following their critically acclaimed album The Powerless Rise from 2009. This album not only features original tracks but also remixes and re-recordings, marking a creative exploration at a time when the band was solidifying their presence in the metalcore scene.
Stylistic neighbors: Killswitch Engage· August Burns Red· Parkway Drive