Review Summary: Not Egyptcore, but still great stuff.
Shokran's middle eastern gimmick is pretty fun, but it doesn't translate to a unique sonic experience. It's an attempt to stand out from the deathcore crowd, which the band already does without gimmicks. That being said, Shokran's album is still a very fun listen. The vocalist is shockingly good, able to switch between singing and growls seamlessly. It is an impressive feat considering how difficult it actually is to accomplish. Both his singing and screaming are quite good. Listening to his performance is similar to enjoying a movie based on an actor's acting. Shokran's album stands on solid ground from this fact alone.
But wait, there's more! There's also the guitars with those insane riffs being played the entire time like the guitarist wants to lose his fingers. His stupidly huge earrings must be enchanted with some mystic powers 'cause he's got eerily mad skills. The drums are also good. Actually the instrumentation in the whole album is outstanding. These guys know how to make good music.
If one had to nitpick, one might mention the samey vibe of the album. There are no real standout moments. Creatures From The Mud is the only song that's catchy enough to get stuck in the head. There's an attempt at a chorus every once in a while, but the album is generally is not sing/scream-along friendly. There are also no standout breakdowns. You get a heaping bowl of the same stuff over and over again - great if you like it, not so great otherwise.
This is not the Egyptcore you were hoping for, but it's still plenty fun. The melodies are great, and the album has great pacing, including a never-ending onslaught of riffs. It's very well produced, polished, and played. There isn't tons of variety, but the music sounds so good it doesn't really matter. It's something you'll want to play again and again. There'll be a new riff you didn't catch for every time you listen. Enjoy it!
