Artists | Issues | CD Reviews | Interviews | Concert Reviews | DVD/Video Reviews | Book Reviews | Who We Are | Staff | Home
 
Metal/Prog Metal CD Reviews

Shadow Keep

The Corruption Within

Review by Mike Korn

Shadow Keep are a traditional power metal band from England that I had not heard of before. Well, I think we'll be hearing more from them because "The Corruption Within" is a polished and powerful debut that should please all fans of classy heavy metal. These guys are pretty straightforward. There's not a lot of frills like choirs or sound effects and there's only minimal keyboards to flesh things out. The approach here is definitely on the medieval side, with plenty of talk of castles and battles, but it doesn't reach the absurd heights of a Rhapsody or Blind Guardian. It's pretty cliched, but they don't lay it on so thick that you gag on it. These guys remind me of the band Crimson Glory, especially their vocalist Rogue M. Mr. M has the nasal, high-pitched vocal approach of Crimson Glory's Midnight and like Midnight, it sometimes is a little much. But it fits the music well. The music itself is well-produced power metal, ranging from mid-paced to speed metal (but never thrash), and featuring a lot of good melodic guitar leads from Chris Allen and Nicki Robson. I can't say the record is without problems but this is only a debut and a most promising one. Shadow Keep is a band to watch for.

The band is Rogue M: Vocals, Chris Allen: Lead guitars, background vocals Nicki Robson: Rhythm and harmony guitars,background vocals James Daley: Bass guitar, background vocals and Dave Edwards: Drums  Keep an eye on Shadow Keep, they are a little bit on the typical side right now but the potential is there to blossom into something special.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2001 Year Book Volume 2 at  garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2001-and-2002.

Track by Track Review
Dark Tower
This is a mid-paced power metal track, not a million miles away from early Queensryche and the unjustly forgotten Liege Lord (a band Shadow Keep resembles). This cut introduces Rogue M's piercing vocals right off the bat.

The Trial of Your Betrayal
Starting with power riffing and segueing into a very melodic verse, this is an average tune.
Mark of the Usurper
An excellent epic, there is some pretty heavy riffing going on here. The cut also includes some good guitar soloing.
Altar of Madness
No, this is not a tribute to Morbid Angel. It is a mid-paced power track with pretty cliched hooks. A good chorus helps it some.
The Corruption Within
The title track is a strong mid-paced anthem with a singalong chorus

Cast Out
The fastest track yet, this classy speed metal mixed with some melodic and mellow riffing - good stuff!
Meta-Morale
This is a fine power metal song. Strong, majestic sounding power chords,remind me of fellow Brits Marshall Law.
The Silver Sword
This lengthy track really sounds like the more epic Crimson Glory. Medieval lyrics and imagery veer towards Manowar territory.

Death of A New Horizon
Short and to the point, this is an excellent no BS cruncher that scorches. It is one of the best tracks on the LP.
Murder
Complex and more shifty than the other tunes, this one goes on too long for its own good. Rogue M's vocals are on the whiny side.
Inner Sanctum
Another mid-paced cut, this is a little bit more melodic and again conjures up some Queensryche/Crimson Glory echoes.
Queen of the Reich
This "hidden"(yeah,right) track is a fine cover of the Queensryche classic.
 
More CD Reviews
Metal/Prog Metal
Non-Prog
Progressive Rock
 
Google

   Creative Commons License
   This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.

    © 2024 Music Street Journal                                                                           Site design and programming by Studio Fyra, Inc./Beetcafe.com