Fury and the Fallen, the debut album from Los Angeles, California based act The Ghost Inside, is an impressive first release and delivers better than average metalcore-fare but ultimately falls short of much that is really exciting for non-core enthusiasts.

The sound is well-executed, if familiar, and though Fury and the Fallen could probably go 10 rounds, it lacks the final knock-out punch to really stand out. If you’re the type that’s bothered by single-note, open palm-muted breakdowns ¾ of the way through nearly ever song, you’ll probably want to give The Ghost Inside a pass.

The California five-piece does manage to get a number of things right though, and if moshy, heart-felt affirmations of perseverance and strength are your cup o’ tea you’ll likely find a lot to love on Fury and the Fallen. Kicking things off with a solid mid-tone scream and some heavy, upbeat power chords is opener “Provoke,” which jumps immediately from the speakers providing a good indicator of what you’ll find on the rest of the album, which is essentially As I Lay Dying with a little less speed and a little less polish, but sporting a gritty blue-collar determination to reach out.

The second cut, “Destined,” opens with a much more memorable riff and keeps things moving where the previous track was allowed to stagnate. When the obligatory break-down kicks in, it sounds fresher due to the off-time inclusion of melodic bits, similar to the payoff in “Disintegrator,” when the final crunch riff revamps elements from the chorus to add new melodic vigor to the usual stomp.

Many of the breakdowns feel forced though, and even the impressive drumming of Kevin Stockbridge can’t keep many of the tough-guy mosh parts from sounding like stumbling parodies. Where Fury and the Fallen really shines is where it steps off the beaten path, incorporating melody in a more organic and textural way than many of their peers. While a lot of bands tack on saccharine solos and sing-along choruses, The Ghost Inside seem, at times, genuinely interested in creating real evocative music.

The first signs of something different appear with likely future single “Faith or Forgiveness” introducing more traditional metalcore melodies and some good dual-guitar work. This is eventually followed by the only real gem of the album, “Shiner,” which showcases by far the most successful and memorable blend of melody, power and emotion. Deftly mixing creamy melodic lines, soaring passages and sharply contrasting an extremely heavy chorus, this mid-album lurker really shows off what The Ghost Inside is capable of when they’re not content simply to tread water.

Rounding out the end of the album is the excellent instrumental “Smoke and Signal Fires,” providing a welcome reprieve before delving into the two best straight-forward face-thumpers on display, “The Lion War” (not about Final Fantasy) and “Blue and Gold” (not about U of M). Both final tracks are heavy and possessed of a spirit which seems only to flit in and out of the rest of Fury and the Fallen, but still suffer a few awkward transitions and dreadfully simplistic lyrics that hopefully can be ironed out of the writing process by the time the second album comes around.

All in all, there are a few redeeming aspects that begin to materialize after repeated listens, but with such a barrage of “been there, heard that” many fans might choose to skip over The Ghost Inside until the boys can deliver on the promise of a more diverse sound and greater focus on writing memorable songs.

www.myspace.com/theghostinside