All That Remains

In the first few seconds of an average All That Remains song, the harmonizing guitar riffage and machine-gun bass drum make you think you know what you're in for: metal. A few seconds later, frontman Phil Labonte enters with a gruff yell, confirming your initial suspicions — and at this point, your head might begin "banging." But then, usually around one minute in, the Boston band does something that 95 percent of metal bands are afraid to do: The chords turn major and Labonte's vocals morph into a melody. While most metalcore bands are obsessed with brutality, All That Remains isn't afraid to write pop songs that merely speak the language of metal. But be warned: The intro riffs rock even harder when placed post-chorus, and ATR, LLC is not responsible for whiplash.