Front Toward Enemy, the Fallen's first record for Metal Blade (the group's proper debut was released independently), features loads of muscular, detuned riffs, whiplash-inducing beats, and a vocal (and lyrical) style that is reminiscent of early-'90s N.Y.C. hardcore. The group's ferocious instrumental attack is its saving grace, as the bellowing, one-note vocal style of Mike Granat is quite limited and becomes a bit monotonous by the time the disc is half over. A pair of acoustic, instrumental pieces (and a surprisingly melodic hidden track) break up the action a bit and offer glimpses of texture, melody, and imagination; perhaps if these guys incorporated more of these moments into their songs, it would help to make their overall sound a bit more varied. ~ Andy Hinds