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Review Summary: Once you enter Supreme Truth, you do not leave the Middle-East. Ever. I have always wondered if ever a band removed an instrument simply to prove a point to their fans that every component counts. The vocals of the original Supreme Truth did however leave a lot to be desired and the true technicality of the album is revealed only after the metalcore-esque croons are pushed aside. SHOKRAN (Capitals?) are a tech-y, proggy, Russian band with an oriental sound. If that doesn't sound good on paper, it most likely isn't your cup of tea but if you like your BTBAM infused with some Ravi Shankar, welcome to SHOKRAN (captials??).
The very opening, aptly-titled 'Interlude' is just that. It is everything the album has to offer in a tight, neat package. While the album does explore many other areas, I hate to say you won't be missing too much if this track doesn't appeal to you. It is fast, furious and undoubtedly Middle-Eastern. This interlude (or should I say Interlude... capitals???) really sets the tone for the rest of the album to come. The album doesn't seem to follow a strict story, more seems to be an almighty accumulation of Oriental head-bangery. There are a lot of oriental stringed instruments in this album. A lot. While they do sound very cool, many trve and kvlt metalheads might sigh at the most extremely clean production approach SHOKRAN has taken, and for these odd instruments specifically.
The production on this album is clean as all heck. While the guitars sound a bit rough around the edges, it is clear that SHOKRAN has taken some steps from modern-prog bands such as Periphery or TesseracT. Everything is ridiculously sharp, not an off beat to be found and a few electronic samples for added effect. TAKE NOTE. This is not Born of Osiris or Rings of Saturn. While Supreme Truth does allow for some serious arpeggios, breakdowns hardly make an appearance, if at all and the samples used are used purely to keep in the oriental theme. Once you enter Supreme Truth, you do not leave the Middle-East. Ever. For some, this album may come across as a monotonous beast as it does follow select scales, the drumming is a box-standard affair (though mixed in well enough that it serves it's purpose of adding punch and not much more) and the song structures are very similar for the most part.
Where this album shines, however, is in listening to tracks individually. There are 15, 3 minute tracks to work through and while that is a chore from a 'must listen from start-to-end as not to let down my br00tal peers', every single track on this album includes some of the most ferocious riffs and guitar-banter you will hear in any modern progressive albums. While I couldn't recommend this album to a hater of those willing to spend an hour a day disputing whether or not 'djent' is in fact a sub-genre, I will say that there isn't a single track on Supreme Truth that hasn't caught my attention at some point. It is consistent, it is fun and it is composed by a group who know exactly what they want, how they want it and what they believe the supreme truth really sounds like.
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So vocally I didn't find anything impressive about their debut, but found myself really digging "Interlude" so I guess this might be for me.
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saw this was a thing 2 days ago i didn't think it'd be like PTH though I may have to listen
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Neither. The vocals detracted a bit for me. But yes, if you liked Interlude, this could be for you. I found so many quirks listening to it minus the vocals that this is definitely one of my more favored instrumental releases in recent times. And the riff construction and cohesiveness on the whole reminds me a lot of PTH. There aren't really any awkward transitions between riffs and the overall album is very consistent. Though I wouldn't say it matches PTH, it is a fantastic start! I hope these guys don't go down the 'djent' route as this is already very close (and based on their new track, that looks like where they are headed) but the album was fun on the whole
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Read the review and liked it. : ) Also really cool album, I don't usually care for instrumental metal albums but this one is just enjoyable.
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Kinda bad band name seeing as shokran means "thank you" in Arabic. Sounds more mysterious when you don't know that.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Well, there is a band called The Who. And one called The What. And one called The How. Shokran at least tried, FadedSun (which Im guessing means 'faded sun' in English? Lol)
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Great lead guitarist.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Damn this is awesome. Took a couple of listens and now I'm in love with the whole album. I really wish there were more like this instead of all that djent stuff, like the newer releases. I prefer these riffs much more.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
I still think the vocals are overhated
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Well, I really feel this was not written with vocals in mind. Just like Interval's The Shape of Colour. Both seem to be instrumental albums at heart and it feels like the vocals are just not needed. That said, I tend to agree that there's no need to hate the vocals here, as they are quite adept, but I do feel they are unnecessary and an overall detriment to the album.
By the way, I see a pattern forming here Steak, with you preferring vocals and me the instrumental versions :-)
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Fair enough, and I do love the instrumentals, but I feel like the vocals elevate the overall music
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Glad they released both versions then.
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They both metal 🤘🏻
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Their other album also has an instrumental version, and the guitarist just released an instrumental album of his own
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Yeah, I checked them out but I like this one the best by far. Those others are too djent for my taste. I prefer the riffs on here.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Fair enough, I like this album a bit more than the newer one as well
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Damn, I wish there were more albums like this. Just straight up riffs, no bullshitting around. Sure, it's not the most diverse one out there and it's not really new or (overly) technical either, but I don't think it wants to be in the first place and I think it more than achieves what it sets out to do. All in all, I love the focus on the on the guitars, this is just so full of awesome riffs that I really don't miss anything else.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
I've never been able to find a band with a similar sound to these guys
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Yeah, most of instrumental metal is either djent or progressive or some other technical wankery that's impressive, but I just don't enjoy them.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Technical wankery is the shit
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