Enshadowed - Intensity
2003 - Black Lotus Records
By Philip Whitehouse
Go to the Black Lotus Records website.
Greek black metallers Enshadowed have returned with a new line-up, which leaves only lead guitarist Necro from the last release. And that's not the only change - there's a new logo, a more sophisticated band image (gone are the gritty monochrome photos of old, in are snazzy digitally manipulated shots), and a greater concentration of death metal into their black metal assault. The writing mechanics of the band have changed also, with every member of the band now participating in the song writing. So, with all this upheaval, have Enshadowed now got a chance of rising above the sea of mediocrity that their countrymen produce?
In a word, indubitably. This latest album sounds like Morbid Angel jamming with Incantation or Aeturnus, a stunningly heavy, compositionally intricate slab of anti-religious spite. There's a sense of urgency and malice to this release, as well as a greater feel for the need for less linear songwriting - rather than following the 'riff salad' formula, Enshadowed seem to have thought strongly about where each song should develop. For example, see the bass guitar break that leads to a dextrous lead riff, then a pick-scrape and rhythm guitar accompaniment in the song 'Obvious Inexistence'. Or, the atmospheric keyboard intro to the album that gives way to 'Sunya Bindu's blasting brutality, which in some ways reminds me of early Metallica's tendency to lull the listener into a false sense of security with acoustic intros before unleashing hell (i.e.,'Master Of Puppets' and 'Ride The Lightning' albums).
The vocals range from death-grunts and growls to more black metallish screams, while the tight, precise drumming counterpoints the various twists and songs each song takes along it's path, making for an album that lives up to it's title. Great stuff.
8/10
2003 - Black Lotus Records
By Philip Whitehouse
Go to the Black Lotus Records website.
Greek black metallers Enshadowed have returned with a new line-up, which leaves only lead guitarist Necro from the last release. And that's not the only change - there's a new logo, a more sophisticated band image (gone are the gritty monochrome photos of old, in are snazzy digitally manipulated shots), and a greater concentration of death metal into their black metal assault. The writing mechanics of the band have changed also, with every member of the band now participating in the song writing. So, with all this upheaval, have Enshadowed now got a chance of rising above the sea of mediocrity that their countrymen produce?
In a word, indubitably. This latest album sounds like Morbid Angel jamming with Incantation or Aeturnus, a stunningly heavy, compositionally intricate slab of anti-religious spite. There's a sense of urgency and malice to this release, as well as a greater feel for the need for less linear songwriting - rather than following the 'riff salad' formula, Enshadowed seem to have thought strongly about where each song should develop. For example, see the bass guitar break that leads to a dextrous lead riff, then a pick-scrape and rhythm guitar accompaniment in the song 'Obvious Inexistence'. Or, the atmospheric keyboard intro to the album that gives way to 'Sunya Bindu's blasting brutality, which in some ways reminds me of early Metallica's tendency to lull the listener into a false sense of security with acoustic intros before unleashing hell (i.e.,'Master Of Puppets' and 'Ride The Lightning' albums).
The vocals range from death-grunts and growls to more black metallish screams, while the tight, precise drumming counterpoints the various twists and songs each song takes along it's path, making for an album that lives up to it's title. Great stuff.
8/10
