This Darkened Heart
All That Remains · 2004
41 min · 10 tracks · metalcore
A relentless blend of melodic metalcore and aggressive riffs, wrapped in emotionally charged lyrics that resonate with urgency.
Top tracks — play these first
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And Death in My Arms Start here — Opening with haunting melodies and heavy breakdowns, this track exemplifies the band's ability to blend emotion with aggression, setting the tone for the album.
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I Die in Degrees — This song features introspective lyrics paired with dynamic shifts in intensity, showcasing the band's signature emotional depth and technical prowess.
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This Darkened Heart — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of struggle and redemption through powerful guitar work and memorable hooks, highlighting the band's melodic sensibilities.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
This album showcases strong songwriting and emotional depth within its metalcore framework.
What we noticed
- Several songs incorporate tempo shifts, alternating between fast-paced sections and slower, more introspective moments.
- The lyrics across the album often explore themes of struggle and resilience, enhancing the emotional weight of the music.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. 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
- steady energy for focused listening
- melodic hooks for emotional release
- relentless intensity throughout album
- engaging anthems for sing-alongs
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- dislike consistent pacing and flow
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album marked a significant step toward commercial recognition for the band.
- Themes
- emotional struggle· redemptive journey
- Career context
- This Darkened Heart is All That Remains' second studio album, following their debut, Behind Silence and Solitude, released in 2002. By 2004, the band was transitioning from underground metalcore to a more mainstream audience, setting the stage for their eventual breakthrough.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Killswitch Engage· As I Lay Dying· Parkway Drive
Tracklist
- 1 And Death in My Arms Start here 4:45
- 2 The Deepest Gray 3:09
- 3 Vicious Betrayal 4:19
- 4 I Die in Degrees 3:30
- 5 Focus Shall Not Fail 6:18
- 6 Regret Not 4:26
- 7 Passion 3:42
- 8 For Salvation 3:50
- 9 Tattered on My Sleeve 4:21
- 10 This Darkened Heart 3:13
What to play next
The Fall of Ideals
2006
Continues the melodic metalcore sound with refined songwriting and intensity.
Behind Silence and Solitude
2002
Introduces the band's early style, setting the stage for the evolution in This Darkened Heart.
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Alive or Just Breathing
Killswitch Engage
Shares the same blend of melodic intensity and emotionally charged themes of struggle and redemption.
Horizons
Parkway Drive
Combines aggressive riffs with introspective lyrics, echoing themes of personal conflict and resilience.
Shadows Are Security
As I Lay Dying
Features a similar mix of melodic metalcore sound and urgent, emotionally driven lyrical content.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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