Failure in what rep range? 3/5, 6/8, 10/12? Stupid question all the way. If you're looking for a bodybuilder look, low reps and going to failure specially is not a great idea. What's the point of failure when doing volume? I don't see any upside to that. The more you're leaning toward strength training, the more often you'll probably go to failure though it still shouldn't be the rule but the exception. It will just happen. On the short/middle term, heavier training gives you much more functionality on a muscular level then volume. But it's taxing on the long term. You don't want to be the guy with the busted knees, elbows, wrists, acromion at merely 40 telling tales about how heavy he used to lift only 5 years earlier and now training with the 20s dumbells.
