SHADOWSIDE – Shades Of Humanity

“I decide to not accept defeat”—laudable words that kick off the chorus of “Make My Fate”, the hard-hitting fourth cut from Shadowside’s new album Shades Of Humanity. The follow up track “Insidious Me” starts out with a scream of “I hate you”, in case anyone was worried that the album was going to wallow in inspiration and positivity—but stay with the first sentiment for a moment.

Shades is Shadowside’s fourth album-length effort, their first with ex-Hammerfall bassist Magnus Rosén, who along with drummer Fabio Buitvidas pounds down a consistently inventive rhythmic bedrock for guitarist Raphael Mattos to lay a compelling mix of intense riffs and incendiary solos over (check out his work at the end of “Drifter”—not a Maiden cover but fantastic nonetheless). Musically, there isn’t a weak track on Shades, but even the ones that are merely “good” are elevated into near-great and great status by the spectacular vocals of Dani Nolden, as exciting a vocalist working in Metal today. She displays great range on the album, handling diverse styles with equal proficiency, going low and growly for the grinding “Unreality”, soaring high to drive home the message in “Make My Fate” and “The Crossing”. As on opener “The Fall”, she often sounds like Graham Bonnet in his Alcatrazz or Rainbow days—a high compliment—but she can also do ethereal vocals such as at the start of album closer and video single “Alive”. She’s so versatile and varied on Shades—a one-woman choir–listeners might think the band has multiple vocalists.

Shades Of Humanity showcases a band who isn’t merely choosing to not accept defeat—they sound like a band reaching for victory and grabbing hold tight.

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