As I Lay Dying have released a new single titled ‘If I Fall’, marking the latest step in what has been an undeniably complicated chapter for the band and its sole remaining original member, Tim Lambesis.
The track arrives as part of the group’s newly rebuilt lineup, following years of internal instability and public scrutiny surrounding Lambesis’ criminal past.
A Band Rebuilt From the Ground Up
The new formation of Chris Clancy, Bill Hudson, Don Vedda and Tim Yeung follows the exodus of the previous lineup, who departed in late 2023 citing personal morals, unhealthy working conditions, and concerns about Lambesis’ behaviour.
Their exit echoed a pattern that has surrounded the band since Lambesis’ 2013 arrest for attempting to hire a hitman to kill his then wife, a crime he later reflected on as “a dark, isolated period” in interviews after his release from prison.
Against that backdrop, ‘If I Fall’ arrives as part of Lambesis’ ongoing attempt to move forward creatively, this time with new musicians and a reset internal structure. According to Lambesis, the song predates the new lineup but evolved as each member contributed. “Musically it hints at what’s possible with this refreshed energy,” he said. “Lyrically it reflects the kind of people I want around me for this next and best chapter.”
Watch: As I Lay Dying New Single ‘If I Fall’
The New Music and What It Represents
‘If I Fall’ leans into fast, melodic guitar work and the polished metalcore sound As I Lay Dying built their name on, but the real question isn’t about the riffs. It’s whether listeners can look past Lambesis’ history and the band’s fractured past long enough to even press play.
That shadow sits over every comeback track they release. The music lands the way fans remember, tight and technical and clearly built for the pit, but time hasn’t softened what happened. For some people, there’s no separating the art from the artist. For others, metalcore’s long tradition of redemption arcs makes this new era worth watching, even if it comes with a knot in the stomach.
It’s AILD doubling down on what they do best, even if it is now with a completely rebuilt lineup after almost every long-time member walked away. They know every release will be judged on two fronts: the music itself and the weight of their history. If you can’t get past that, nothing they release will matter. But if you can, ‘If I Fall’ might be the first sign that As I Lay Dying are actually pushing toward a second chapter that still carries every scar from the first.
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