| CD REVIEW Shadows’ Grey |
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Band: Shadows’ Grey In 2007, a band called Scargod was formed in Austria, but shortly after the recording of a demo and CD-r, and due to internal problems (the members didn’t get along about the musical direction to choose), Scargod broke up in 2009. Some members decided, however, to go on together, and they re-united, yet with a new moniker, Shadows’ Grey. The quartet (Martina - v, Albert - v, Martin - b, and Dominik - b), recorded a studio album somewhat later, and this recording gets released by the growing label Twilight Zone.Bonjour Tristesse has duration of an hour and stands for a melancholic and neo-symphonic form of Gothic-oriented Metal/ Rock. The combination of (classical skilled?) female vocals, a grumpy and grunting throat, harmony choirs and a clean male voice is not that unique; the implementation of piano, acoustic parts and orchestral keyboard lines either; the melancholic riffs and Dreams Of Sanity/ Lacrimosa-rhythms either; the would-be emotionality, the … either. Shadows’ Grey succeed to be extremely uninspired, anti-original, and unfortunately this band does not convince at all. The intention to do well is present, but the actual execution of it lacks (sucks) completely. Does it mean the whole album sucks? No, not all of it. A few (unfortunately: very few) parts are satisfying (or better: close to not that un-satisfying). From time to time it reminds me to a mixture of Epica, The Season and (later) Nightwish, or even Autumn (the Dutch one), Coronatus or Flowing Tears, but most of the time… And never it reaches the level of any of these bands – at all! And what about that children’s choir, for example? The would-be ‘aggression’? The ‘I want to be brutal’-attitude (wrong try, guys)? The interaction between melancholy and even more melancholy, yet of the most boring kind? Adieu tristesse! 55/100 Ivan Tibos. |
