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Long Shadows Dawn: Isle Of Wrath
Long Shadows Dawn - Isle Of Wrath Album Art

Long Shadows Dawn: Isle Of Wrath

Hard Rock/Heavy Metal
4.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 28.07.2021 | Released: 06.08.2021

A new project, Long Shadows Dawn features Scottish vocalist Doogie White (Rainbow, Michael Schenker Fest) together with Swedish guitarist Emil Norberg (Persuader). The seeds of the partnership came from Frontiers Music President Serafino Perugino who wanted display White's voice in songs in the style of Rainbow, among other Eighties (and Seventies influenced) hard and heavy bands. The result is the duo debut album Isle Of Wrath.

Long Shadows Dawn - Click For Larger Image

Long Shadows Dawn

With a simple single spin, I would be easy for some listeners to drop Long Shadows Dawn into the category of "throwback Thursday," wherein we reminisce of days gone by and music of yore, especially those of us slipping into middle age. But that would be unfair. Classic rock and metal is timeless and still influences new generations of musicians (whether they want to admit it or not). In this sense Doogie White has that quintessential rock and metal style: at once assertive, yet never straining, and always following and promoting song melody. Norberg is also a traditional guitarist who knows the importance of bracing riffs, but also guitar harmony accentuating song harmony and, of course, the importance of epic solos. You've got them here. To be honest, I have never been a fan of Norberg's Persuader, a power metal band aping a thrash metal band. But that thrash influence is not notable here, if not nearly non-existent. Noting a few songs, fast and heavy numbers arrive with Deal With The Preacher, On Wings Of Angels, and Master Of Illusion. All three are notable for their strong riffs and deep rhythm and groove, before and then continuing with some speed. Norberg makes his presence known in many songs with his riffs and solos, yet quite notable and feisty with guitar eruption at the star of Hallelujah Brother. A ballad disguised as not a ballad in the title comes with Never Wrote A Love Song with some nice interplay between acoustic and electric guitar. As for the Rainbow influence, perhaps Star Rider is the best example with its mixed rhythms and invasive guitar lines. To summarize, Long Shadows Dawn and Isle Of Wrath is a fine context and platform for both vocalist Doogie White and guitarist Emil Norberg to shine, and offer listeners some strong, classic hard and heavy, guitar-driven rock. Recommended.




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The Take Away

Long Shadows Dawn and Isle Of Wrath is a fine context and platform for both vocalist Doogie White and guitarist Emil Norberg to shine, and offer listeners some strong, classic hard and heavy, guitar-driven rock. Recommended.

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