
One world divided in two.
-- Shadecrown --
04/04/2020
Stijn Daneels

Album genres:
■ | Melodic death metal |
■ | Doom Metal |
Album artists:
■ | Jari Jarska Hokka | Vocals |
■ | Joonas Vesamäki | Guitar |
■ | Tomi Tikka | Guitar |
■ | Saku Sacce Tammelin | Keyboard |
■ | Kalle Varonen | Drums |
■ | Janne Salmelin | Bass, clean vocals |
Review
written by Glenn “Terra Shredder” Van Bockstaele.
Shadecrown
is a Finnish death/doom band founded 2012. “Riven” is their second album,
succeeding their 2016 full-length “Agonia” and released through Finnish record
label Inverse Records. I’ve always enjoyed a good melodic extreme metal act, so
big thanks to our Finnish friends for sending this! Kiitos!
“Riven”
begins with the melancholic piano tunes of “Not Until The End,” until the song
explodes into a beautiful set of high-octane guitars, majestic keyboards,
guttural vocals and an epic chorus! Things take a darker turn in the next song “Lifelong
Dying” with harsher, more bass-driven beats and grunts but the tandem of guitars
and keyboards still give this song a highly melodic feel. The keyboards take
center stage in the following song, “Rain’s Edge,” along with whispering vocals
and crunchy guitars in the background. This song also features a sweet acoustic
middle section. Then comes “The Ghost I Mourn” which is a faster-paced tune
with grinding riffs, galloping drums and only a meditative middle part to cool
things down.
“Incomplete”
starts off very moody but gradually gets more complex and eventually turns into
a rollercoaster of upbeat guitar and keyboard melodies. Then comes “Hate
Reflected,” a very multi-layered tune wherein the growling vocals come together
with both acoustic and electric instruments. The lengthy track “Divided,” is a great
atmospheric song with doesn’t bore at all thanks to its many soaring guitar
solos and frequent tempo changes. The album ends with “Traces,” one final track
whose initial dreary feel gets blown away by one final explosive round of
guitars.
Shadecrown’s
second album has a strong melancholic sound similar to bands like Insomnium and
Wolfheart with 8 no-nonsense tracks. The band employs traits from doom, death
and progressive metal to create a varied, complex and atmospheric experience
that commands multiple listening sessions. Here’s “Lifelong Dying.”
85/100