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Thy Shade: The Last Goodbye
Thy Shade The Last Goodbye CD Album Review

Thy Shade: The Last Goodbye

Melodic/Symphonic/Power Metal
3.5/5.0

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Massacre Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 23.11.2016

Denver Colorado, let alone the larger United States, isn't the first place I look to find a female-fronted symphonic power metal band. Yet, that's where we find Thy Shade, a band centered around classically trained vocalist Diana Shade, with song composition and production from life partner Mane Cabrales (Dimension). He also contributes drums, bass, and guitar. David Quicho, also from Dimension, provides guest guitar solos.

Diana Shade Photo

Diana Shade

Thy Shade and their debut album The Last Goodbye could simply fall into the category of, "there's nothing new under the sun." My first impression of Ms Shade and this album was simply, early Nightwish deja vu. Shade definitely has that angelic and operatic style, measured by strength, control, and passion. Her voice is then framed by the rather typical bombastic symphonic power metal. Essentially, Thy Shade and this album meet the expectations we all have for this genre.

Having met the most basic criteria, the question remains is the band bringing anything new and/or novel to the table. I'm not so sure. As much as I understand the genre, I'm not it's first and favorite fan. Perhaps the question will be best answered by the diehard aficionados who live for this stuff. (It's quite apropos that the band was signed to a European label, Germany's mighty Massacre Records. They love this music over there.)

Suffice to say, for me, I was impressed by one thing about The Last Goodbye: Thy Shade's contemporary application of symphonic power metal to three classical music pieces. These were Adagio by Tomaso Albinoni, O Divine Redeemer by Charles Gounod, and Inneggiamo by Pietro Mascagni. My particular enjoyment of these songs probably arises from my love of classical music, my "go-to" music when I need a reprieve from hard rock and heavy metal. While the six original songs are rather generic, these songs soar, and Ms Shade soars, amazingly so. Her vocals within O Divine Redeemer will send chills down your spine, and the lyrics are dramatic and inspiring. Maybe in this lies Thy Shade's true calling, adapting classical pieces to modern symphonic power metal. Not that it hasn't been done before, but they seem really good at it. In the end, my advice is simple. If you like the genre, you will like this album. Get it.

Thy Shade - Adagio


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The Bottom Line

Thy Shade and their debut album The Last Goodbye could simply fall into the category of, "there's nothing new under the sun." My first impression of Ms Shade and this album was simply, early Nightwish deja vu. Nevertheless, if you like the genre, you will like this album.

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