• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

November 2024

• Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
• Lionville: Supernatural
• Starchaser: Into The Great Unkown
• Empires Of Eden: Guardians Of Time
• Lonerider: Down In The Dust
• Seventh Crystal: Entity
• Neal Morse & The Resonance: No Hill For A Climber
• Beardfish: Songs For Beating Hearts
• Impellitteri: War Machine
• Brothers Of Metal: Fimbulvinter

October 2024

• Casandra's Crossing: Garden Of Earthly Delights
• DGM: Endless
• Daytona: Garder la Flamme
• Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
• Frost*: Life In The Wires
• Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
• Fans Of The Dark: Video
• Radioactive: Reset
• House Of Lords: Full Tilt Overdrive
• Cleanbreak: We Are The Fire

September 2024

• Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
• Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
• Eclipse: Megalomanium II
• SteelCity: Reverence
• Hydra: ReHydrated
• Heartwind: III
• Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
• Find Me: Nightbound
• The Nail: The Nail
• Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
• Stryper: When We Were Kings
• Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
• Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
• Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly

August 2024

• Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
• Paralydium: Universe Calls
• Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
• Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
• All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
• Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2

[ More Music Reviews ]

Shadowkeep: Shadowkeep

Heavy/Power Metal

4.0/5.0

Website Facebook
Pure Steel Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 21.03.2018

You may be asking, Where have they been? That's a fair question. England's Shadowkeep has been missing in action, at least from the studio, for nearly ten years when they released The Hourglass Effect. They return with fourth long player, simply self-titled, and with another change at the microphone. American power metal vocalist James Rivera (Helstar) becomes Shadowkeep's third vocalist, replacing Ritchie Wicks.

Shadowkeep

Formed by guitarists Chris Allen and Nicki Robson, it's safe to call Shadowkeep a guitar-centered heavy power metal band in the best tradition. The life of every song revolves around twin guitar harmony, quickly followed by an abundance of thrilling guitar solos. Drop in a galloping rhythm section for power and groove and the power metal motif is made complete. But it's still all about the guitars.

While I've never been a fan of Helstar, Rivera seems to fit the current Shadowkeep sound, even if he is crushed in the mix. But this begs the question. How important are the lyrics and their vocal presentation, if they're nearly obliterated in the mix. Both seem something like an afterthought in a Shadowkeep song. Nevertheless, with the previous singer Wicks, Shadowkeep was going for a Halford-type style. That remains with Rivera who is often compared to the iconic metal god. Fundamentally, and as mentioned earlier, Shadowkeep and this album is driven by the strength of Chris Allen and Nicki Robson's twin guitar power. If you love an abundance of harmonious riffage and killer solos, you'll dig this album. Recommended. Song picks: Atlantis, Immortal Drifter, Flight Across The Sand, and the instrumental The Sword Of Damocles.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Fundamentally, Shadowkeep and this album is driven by the strength of Chris Allen and Nicki Robson's twin guitar power. If you love an abundance of harmonious riffage and killer solos, you'll dig this album. Recommended.

Alphabetical Index

eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]