Every once in a while, the international metal underground releases another gem Such was the case with Sepultura (Brazil), Moonspell (Portugal), Tierra Santa (Spain) and Pentagram (the Chilean deathsters, not the American stoners). Nowadays, this phenomenon is increasingly rare, but it still happens every now and then. Its latest manifestation goes by the name of Shadowsphere.
Shadowsphere are a Portuguese death/thrash metal band comprised of Luís Goulão (g), Filipe (g), Paulinho (v), Rui Neves (b) and André Silva (d). Getting together in late 1999, the band went through a series of changes (Goulão was originally the lead singer as well) before releasing their debut EP, «Death and Dreaming».
Released in 2001, «Death and Dreaming» showed promise, but suffered from horrendous production and mixing, which totally ruined some of the songs («Violent Aggression» being the best example). However, it was already clear that this band was on its way to become something big. This impression is confirmed on the band’s first long-play CD, «DarkLands».
«DarkLands» is an ambitious, semi-conceptual album where more than half the songs revolve around the story of Dracula. Although slightly clichéd, this concept is very well explored and follows the script of Francis Ford Coppolla’s movie. The other half of the album consists of the songs from «Death and Dreaming» in new and improved forms, with Paulinho singing lead in all of them, plus one new track, the heavily underrated «Stirs Of Echoes». This song is maligned by the band themselves, and is in fact the only song Shadowsphere NEVER played live.
Sonically, this band floats on the same waters as In Flames, and on some occasions strangely remind us of Withering Surface. However, they sound manages to be personal and unique, mostly due to Goulão’s Maidenesque lead guitar. Paulinho, on the other hand, sounds like Alexi Laiho and Chuck Schuldiner rolled into one, and helps give the songs a very distinctive personality. As for the rhythm section, it’s probably the best one in Portugal at the moment – Rui Neves is solid on bass and André Silva is one of the hidden treasures of the underground metal scenario. He is simply breathtaking.
But not only the musicians are good; the songs are, too. Standouts include «New Sky», a track Anders Fridén might wish he had wrote, «Nosferatu», a brutal yet catchy death metal romp, and «At The Graves», the title of which may contain a hidden homage to a certain influential band… Of course, being a concept, some of the tracks here were easily expendable. The best examples are the three instrumentals, «Hunter’s Prelude» (which is actually theeleventh track!), «…Of Passion and Pain» and the long-winded, snore-inducing «Love Never Dies» (when they played this live once, everybody nearly fell asleep). However, these less interesting moments are made up for by the aforementioned tracks and a few others that, while not as strong, help round up the package nicely.
All in all, «DarkLands» is a very, very good album. It’s a pity, therefore, that the production is not up to par. Although recorded at the best studio in Portugal, the sound is still too muffled, and some of the musicians (André Silva in particular) are put in a straitjacket. However, the sheer puissance of these tracks nearly manages to overcome this obstacle. Nearly. But it’s a fact that Shadowsphere are at their best on a stage: that’s where the band and its musicians truly shine, and any concert these guys give is a guaranteed good time (especially if you already know the songs).
In conclusion, Shadowsphere have what it takes to make it big, but are a little handicapped by their awkward geographic provenience. If they had been formed in Sweden or the USA (or even Germany) they’d be selling by the thousands now. Because there are in meek little Portugal, they remain one of the underground’s best kept secrets. But not for long, surely….
«Drifting in search of a way/I fly to a brand new day/Drifting in search I fly/To the depths of a brand NEW SKY!!»
PS: Visit the band’s webpage at www.shadowsphere.no.sapo.pt
