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April 2021

• Robbie LaBlanc: Double Trouble
• Icon Of Sin: Icon Of Sin
• The Treatment: Waiting For Good Luck
• The End Machine: Phase 2
• Temple Balls: Pyromide
• Sweet Oblivion Featuring Geoff Tate: Relentless
• Screamachine: Screamachine
• Infinite & Divine: Silver Lining
• Nad Sylvan: Spiritus Mundi

March 2021

• Odd Dimension: The Blue Dawn
• Silent Winter: Empire Of Sins
• George Tsalikis: Return To Power
• Christian Liljegren: Melodic Passion

• Animal House: Living In Black And White
• Lunar Shadow: Wish To Leave
• Adamantis: Far Flung Realm
• Turbulence: Frontal
• Sunstorm: Afterlife

• Secret Sphere: Lifeblood
• Ronnie Atkins: One Shot
• Phallax: Lex Concordia
• Orden Ogan: Final Days
• Issa: Queen Of Broken Hearts

February 2021

• Magnus Karlsson's Heart Healer: The Metal Opera
• Gary Hughes: Waterside
• Chez Kane: Chez Kane
• Black Diamonds: No-Tell Hotel
• Walk The Walk: Walk The Walk

[ More Music Reviews ]

Shining Black: Shining Black

Melodic Heavy Metal Rock

4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 10.07.2020 | Released: 10.07.2020

The roots of new band, Shining Black, go back to 2014 when Italian metal band Labyrinth needed a new vocalist, after Roberto Tiranti left the ensemble. The band chose veteran vocalist Mark Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen, Ring Of Fire, Royal Hunt). His tenure lasted 3 years, but he and Labyrinth guitarist Olaf Thorson (also, Vision Divine) remained friends and kept in touch. Thanks to the prompting of the music gurus at Frontiers Music, the duo finally gathered to form Shining Black.

Mark Boals and Olaf Thorson

It goes without saying that both of these artists are exceptional at their craft. But Shining Black isn't a clone of Labyrinth, Ring Of Fire, or Royal. No, their sound traverses the genre of melodic heavy metal, with bits of power metal, and definitely infused with hard rock groove. Obviously, in the song composition emphasis is placed upon the principal players' strong points: Boals' voice and vocal arrangements and Thorson's rhythmic riffs and soaring solos. But there's also some power and groove from the rhythm section and a nice synth layer for accent and embellishment. The result is some solid and entertaining melodic heavy metal rock.

You'll find this quickly with The House Of The Fallen Souls, but also with the big beat and heavy Shining Black, the fast grooving Carousel, and the rather catchy melodic metal of Just Another Day. Alternatively, a song like Where Are Your Gods turns more upon melodic power metal with its quick pacing. Shining Black also offers a fine metal anthem with The Day We Said Goodbye, featuring acoustic guitar, strong guitar lines and, after the three minute mark and a ripping guitar solo, a fine piano segue. Wrapping up, the duo of vocalist Mark Boals and guitarist Olaf Thorson is a strong musical combination, and Shining Black delivers exceptional melodic metal rock. Get it, easily recommended.

The duo of vocalist Mark Boals and guitarist Olaf Thorson is a strong musical combination, and Shining Black delivers exceptional melodic metal rock. Get it, easily recommended.

Alphabetical Index

Once more we revisit with England rockers, The Treatment for their fifth studio album, Waiting For Good Luck. While, in the past, the band has been a revolving door of personnel changes. The new album finds ... [ Read More ]

Hovering around the European power metal theater since 2003 is Warsaw's Exlibris. (Not to be confused with Netherlands' female-fronted Ex Libris.) Formed by keyboard player and principal composer ... [ Read More ]