Theres so little originality left in metal these days it seems, bands tend to fall into a few categories. There are the bands who follow the trend of the day but make no attempt to stand out or sound different. There are bands who think that originality means throwing in a bunch of metal or non-metal styles into their sound until it sounds so disjointed and diluted that it is often unlistenable. And then there bands like Shadow Demon who take their influences and channel them into a unique creation.
The Shadow Demon bio cites Iced Earth and Testament as two big influences, and while that information alone can yield an expectation, the end product is unlike either band. There are elements of European power metal, thrash, and even a little Destroyer 666 in Sea of Oblivion. Where it becomes greater than the sum of its influences is in each musicians style and songwriting. Rhythm guitarist Jeff Helm leads the charge, sporting a warm, classic tone with a combination of thrash riffs and more melodic riffs to back the vocal lines. Longtime bassist James Rinker fills out the sound with a very midrangey tone which helps him to be heard, and while much of his playing supports the riffs he does separate from the guitar in places. Rinker is also the other primary songwriter along with Helm, and while I cant quite put my finger on it there are definite contrasts to their styles that keeps the album fresh all the way through.
There was a time not long ago when Shadow Demon was on a seemingly endless search for a drummer which has finally ended with the addition of Jay Davidson. I dont know where he has been hiding but his style fits perfectly in with the Shadow Demon sound. Davidson plays solidly at every tempo demanded of him, has a tight double-kick, and plays his kit in a very musical way. One of the only weaknesses to Grimoire of Ruin, however, is the drum tone. The snare is a bit thin, and along with the kick drums is set a little far back in the mix. Despite my armchair producing, the clear mix allows everything to be heard easily, and the kicks do have plenty of the necessary punch to them. The other new member, lead guitarist Ryan Gallagher, provides some great melodic shredding, except that there dont seem to be enough places in these 9 songs for him to ply his trade. Maybe its my imagination, or maybe its that Shadow Demon went for so long without a lead guitarist that they werent writing the songs with solos in mind, but a few more solos here and there would certainly have been welcome.
For music like this to thrive, a great singer is required. Shadow Demon has that in Blaine Hammond. Much of the original sound Shadow Demon possesses is due to Hammonds strong pipes, which keep the melodies strong and gritty without taking the pitch into helium territory. The easiest parallel to draw would be Matt Barlows singing during his tenure in Iced Earth, although he and Hammond sound nothing alike. The only singer I was really reminded of while listening to Grimoire of Ruin was brought to mind during Umbris Mortis, at about the minute-20 mark, where his somber tones elicit recollections of End of Greens Infinity album. The layering of harmonies is also an integral part of the Shadow Demon sound, and are frequent though not overused, and lend a very classy feeling to the music.
Only one previously released song is present on Grimoire of Ruin, the great headbanger
And the Meek which had kicked off their 2003 EP, and while it is probably still my favorite Shadow Demon song there really isnt a weak one in the newer tracks. Starting with the high energy syncopation of A Dream of Dreams, the powerful Drums of War and the Helm-penned thrasher The Dark Citadel Part 1 (The Shifter), the stage is set at the outset for a classic in the making. Whether intentional or not, I found the latter half of the album to be a little more experimental, or less straightforward, although neither of those is quite the right words. Not having heard any of these songs other than the aforementioned
And the Meek before listening to the album, I was somewhat caught off-guard at the start of Brave Murder Day, which finds both the riffing and vocal melody far different than anything else on the album and then becomes about as close to a ballad as can be found here, but then the song bursts into a more typical Shadow Demon sound toward the end. The first couple listens to the album, Ill admit, I did not like the beginning of the song, but the more I listen to it the more sense it makes. In fact, thats a pretty good summation for the album as a whole. From the first listen I enjoyed what I was hearing, but Grimoire of Ruin really benefits from multiple listens, where you can really take in all that Shadow Demon has to offer and enjoy all the nuances of their style. The albums artwork is worthy of mention as well, though it was not done by the band themselves, as it is a gorgeous, ominous piece of work thats a perfect fit for this excellent album. Shadow Demon have put their souls into their music for so long and that passion shines through from beginning to end of Grimoire of Ruin.
