Not All Who Wander Are Lost (album)

Not All Who Wander Are Lost is the debut studio album by American metalcore band The Word Alive. It was released on August 26, 2009, through Fearless Records. The album followed the band's formation in 2008 and their initial EP, Empire.

The album features a blend of metalcore elements, incorporating both melodic and aggressive instrumentation. It showcases the band's early sound, characterized by heavy breakdowns, dual guitar harmonies, and a mix of clean and unclean vocals from then-vocalist Craig Mabbitt. Lyrically, the album explores themes of self-discovery, overcoming adversity, and the search for meaning.

Not All Who Wander Are Lost received generally mixed reviews upon its release. Some critics praised the band's energy and musicianship, while others found the album to be somewhat generic compared to other bands in the metalcore genre. Despite mixed critical reception, the album helped to establish The Word Alive within the metalcore scene and served as a foundation for their subsequent releases. The title itself is a reference to a line from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring.