LP Review: "Agonia" by Shadecrown

Agonia

First impressions are just worst thing in the world if you're anything like me.

Case in point, my daughter and I were headed home from school when she asked about handshakes.

"Daddy, why do people shake hands?"

Truth be told, I did not recall the reason why we did that, but after a hockey game that same week, our friend told us about checking for hidden daggers.

Handshakes are anxiety inducing for me...because it's a feat of strength, and what does it matter if this guy can crush my fingers? Seriously, who wants their fingers crushed and how's this supposed to mean that he's good at business?

Customs are stupid, but anyway, let's all shake hands with Shadecrown.

Shadecrown, proud owners of Scandinavian credit cards.

In a perfect world, an album will feature several peaks and valleys. Getting the running order just right will make the difference between a work of art and a collection of singles.

The latter being, messy.

Progressive bands though have long felt the album of peaks and valleys is far too limiting, why not make songs like this?

Shadecrown, though listed as a Finnish Melodic Death Metal Band, is a very progressive sextet. The guitars work in concert like the days of old. Instead of having two rhythm players with one of them handling the solos, there are actual lead and rhythm parts throughout the vast majority of this album.

That's not to say there aren't some thunderous double rhythm guitar passages full of runaway train chugging, because there are, but it's a secondary layer of melody that paints the songs as more than just headbanging thrashfests.

Not that there's anything wrong with that, Deicide.

The only real problem I have on this album is the lack of those flashy guitar solos death metal is known for, but it wasn't until about the fourth or fifth song that there was something missing.

This isn't your father's death metal album and that's why it's amazing.

Release: 10/21/16
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Label: Inverse Records
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