Shylmagoghnar
Emergence


4.0
excellent

Review

by Xenorazr USER (120 Reviews)
September 25th, 2017 | 69 replies


Release Date: 2014 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Luscious fallout.

Metal is certainly no stranger to painting grim pictures. For many bands, one more bleak feeling or vision is just another cell in the bloodstream from which they live and thrive. This naturally leads to an overabundance of similar-sounding bands and albums, with the most distinguishing factor from one group to next simply being how they execute their vision. After all, a vivid concept can only go so far if it's realized in a way that neither compels listening nor discussion. Even genres as open to variation as progressive metal have ample room to fall flat when misused (looking at you, Dream Theater). Fortunately for us, this possibility has not been lost on Shylmagoghnar, a relatively fresh face out of the Netherlands comprised of two talented musicians. Emergence, their debut LP, has been available in its entirety on YouTube since its release in early 2014, amassing nearly 1.4 million views to date. This may not automatically put them in the same echelon as other, more commonly known metal bands, but it obviously speaks volumes about the appeal Emergence has to both new and returning listeners.

What must be mentioned from the onset is that Emergence works incredibly well for both types of listeners; the music is remarkably polished and tasteful, especially for a debut. A host of complementary subgenres are utilized to the point that you think less about the band’s influences and more about how natural it all sounds. A quick sample would likely see comparisons made to melodic death metal, but with some touches and subtleties integrated into the framework. This immediate impression means we’re dealing with an album that, though accessible, still holds the goods to keep people coming back to both ponder and enjoy the music even further. Emergence is the definition of instrumentally ripe , boasting a healthy combination of thrash-esque riffs and atmospheric melodies. Even when the album begins to shift gears, it loses neither sight nor grasp of its post-apocalyptic sensations. Shylmagoghnar constantly ride the line between contrasting elements, be it wonder and gloom, or aggression and delicacy. It’s a line that will either keep you guessing or coming back to savor that much more.

Emergence also takes advantage of a few progressive touches to better animate the listening experience, often evidenced in how each track plays out compared to what comes before or after it. Skirge and Nimblkorg wisely kick off with an elegant instrumental piece before grizzling things for a couple tracks, only to gradually pull back before sharpening their grit yet again. This may sound messy in writing, but the duo handle the shifting scenery with tact. No particular style is left to dominate for too long. One of the few seeming constants is vocalist Skirge, who as his name suggests, plays up the grit by screaming and snarling in ways that will feel familiar to any avid metal fan. His inspirations are often transparent, such as the Stanne-like growls on “This World Shall Fall” and an exclamation early into “Squandered Paradise” that sounds like it was ripped straight out of Dance of December Souls. The exertion of Skirge’s vocal style is ultimately a less interesting version of what Emergence achieves from an instrumental standpoint, but one that still fits the fold quite comfortably.

Shylmagoghnar have done well to put themselves on the radar. Not only have they made it easy to hear their first batch of material, but they’ve managed to remain engaged with listeners’ comments. Combine that with an excellent debut that makes revisiting a wasteland-like soundscape more and more appealing with every listen and you have a truly strong foundation to build upon. Time will tell if Shylmagoghnar can keep the momentum going into Transcience, but if Emergence is a sign of things to come, then we may have a new, high-rising metal band to follow over the coming years.



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user ratings (152)
4.1
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
Xenorazr
September 25th 2017


1466 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Still alive, somehow. This needed a review.

BlackwaterPork
September 25th 2017


4390 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Wow this sounds up my street, really need to have a listen. Great review as well

Xenorazr
September 25th 2017


1466 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

There's a lot to enjoy here. I've easily listened to it over a dozen times for the past couple weeks and still feel like it hasn't completely sunk in yet.

ramon.
September 25th 2017


4204 Comments


surprised this didn't have a review already. fun little ditty, seems conversation around this album never really dies out online so glad it has a thread here now. good review

Xenorazr
September 26th 2017


1466 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

I think part of that stems from the fact the band frequently respond to comments on their upload of the album on YouTube. If the band takes a bit of time to interact with their fanbase then it can definitely help propel them into greater popularity.

Hawks
September 26th 2017


93615 Comments


Def gonna give this a listen tonight, looks awesome. m/

Hawks
September 26th 2017


93615 Comments


Ok this album is fucking amazing wow.

BlackwaterPork
September 26th 2017


4390 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Yeah it's brilliant

Hawks
September 26th 2017


93615 Comments


Who are the fucking idiots that gave this a 1 is the real question....

ramon.
September 26th 2017


4204 Comments


this is hawks bait for sure

BlackwaterPork
September 26th 2017


4390 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Jesus 5 people gave this a 1, that's pretty infuriating

Voltimand
September 26th 2017


1670 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Re-listening to this, bump for swift justice.

Voltimand
September 26th 2017


1670 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Actually, if there's only one complaint I have, it's the lack of audible bass but I can deal.

frozencarl
September 26th 2017


1751 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

yo this is something else

VikkiH
September 27th 2017


248 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

I'm so glad someone finally reviewed this. I haven't written a review in 7 years and almost started a review for this album because it didn't have one. Didn't feel like I could do it justice though, and I'm fairly new to metal without the core in it. :P



Definitely my favourite album I discovered this year, along with Wormwood's Ghostlands: Wounds From a Bleeding Earth, another well produced Melodic Black Metal debut masterpiece that doesn't have a review yet (hint, hint).

Hawks
September 27th 2017


93615 Comments


This is way, way, way better than that new Wormwood album. That one was super disappointing for me.

Xenorazr
September 27th 2017


1466 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Definitely glad to see people enjoy this album so much. I feel like it's one of those hidden gems that most people know about but doesn't get brought up in conversation as much as it should.

christhjian
October 2nd 2017


715 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

This is absolutely brilliant. I remembered this was great, but the review made me revisit it. Fantastic stuff.

Hawks
October 9th 2017


93615 Comments


Rules. m/

ramon.
October 9th 2017


4204 Comments


Glad I own this on CD. Makes me look extra cool at the local lumberjack convention.



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