This is the debut album from UK sludge metallers Shadowvale.
After Shadowvale’s revelatory performance at last year’s Mangata Festival, this has been a release to watch out for. Well, it’s now here, so the question that presents itself is this – was it worth the wait? Have Shadowvale managed to deliver the goods and live up to their promise?
Pretty much, yes.
Shadowvale’s style can be broadly defined as sludge metal, but of a kind that doesn’t completely limit itself to just the core features of sludgy heaviness. Elements of doom metal, hardcore, and alternative metal can all be found in the band’s toolkit, among a few others scattered around. These are deployed effectively, making for songs that are easy to like if you have an appreciation for all things heavy.
The songs are full of meaty riffs and understated hooks. Shadowvale is a grower; although there’s enough instant appeal to entertain, its real value becomes apparent over time. The music worm its way into your head, crushing and grooving its way into your thoughts. Different songs have different strengths, but all hit the spot and deliver the goods as they are intended too.
The vocals – shouts, growls, screams, roars, and the occasional flourish of clean singing – are more diverse than the norm for the style, and well-delivered. The singer has put the work in, and her voice provides a dynamic, shapeshifting edge to the solid walls of guitars that back them.
Shadowvale’s debut album has not disappointed. At least, it mostly hasn’t – like so many, many albums it suffers from Pointless Interlude Syndrome, which appears here in the form of the filler track Zopiclone Black, but you can’t have everything, eh? Besides, it’s churlish to complain too much when the music either side of this is as enjoyable as it is.
So, minor misstep aside, this is very good stuff. It mixes sludge, doom, and metal in enticing and engaging ways. It’s nicely diverse, has an array of well-written songs that readily hold the listener’s attention, and ultimately kicks out the jams in a very confident and convincing way.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 