Shadow Keep - A Chaos Theory
Limb Music Products
Power Metal
12 songs (49'19)
Release year: 2002
Shadow Keep, Limb Music Products
Reviewed by Marty
Shadowkeep is one of England's few offerings to the world in the Power Metal genre. Bands from such countries as Germany, Sweden, Finland and Italy have dominated the scene for quite a few years now. These guys first emerged in the year 2000 with the release of The Corruption Within. Led by the twin guitar attack of Chris Allen and Nick Robson they offer up a healthy dose of riff laden Power Metal that is driven by the awesome drumming of Scott Higham, formerly of Angel Witch and the bass of Steve Scott, ex-Dragonheart.

The band's latest release is a concept album of sorts and is a mix of 80's style Queensryche / Fates Warning type of metal with some modern speedy Power Metal elements. They have a more traditional edge to their sound (some Iron Maiden style harmonies on a few tracks) and this album is loaded with tons of very catchy and very good pure Heavy Metal guitar riffs. Some of the riffing style gives the band an almost True Metal flavor at times and there's enough riffs on this album for 4 or 5 Hammerfall albums! (not to pick on Hammerfall but they tend to build entire songs around one or two riffs). I don't think I've ever heard a band throw in so many great riffs in one song......this whole album is guitar riff heaven!! If you like great fast, but not too technical sounding classic Heavy Metal lead guitar, there's an abundance of that here as well.

The speed and technical ability that this band shows during some of the many abrupt and very difficult tempo changes is staggering at times. It took a couple of listens to really appreciate just how good musically this band is. There's a certain element to the band's sound that really brings Mercyful Fate to mind as far as the type of riffs used and the overall mix of the band's sound. This album has an atmosphere about it and reminds me of Queensryche's Warning in which the whole album sounds like it was processed in some way to give it a more dramatic and richer sound.

Vocalist Rogue M. has a higher pitched vocal range and really reminds me of Ray Alder from Fates Warning. His screaming style at times even approaches older Geddy Lee proportions! He has a decent voice, but is sometimes a little too over-dramatic. Most of the songs would be so much better if there was some variety in his vocal delivery style. The track, Thorns And A Rose is one exception. It's a very different sounding song than the rest of the album and is a very uniquely structured power ballad with some great vocal phrasing and a great chorus. Another major highlight is the track Fear And Loathing. It begins as a slower mid tempo song and then quickly erupts into a classic hard driving German Power Metal style....great song!!

An interesting and very recent development with this band is the departure of their lead vocalist, Rogue M. and the announcement that former Tygers Of Pantang vocalist Richie Wicks will be their new singer. I think this band is so close to breaking out and being a major force on the metal scene that a new vocalist may give these guys just the right improvement in their overall sound to make it so. They show great promise and have a killer tight and classic Heavy Metal sound. They are exciting to listen to and musically they just kill!! I can find little fault with the very busy riff structuring of their songs. A little improvement on vocal phrasing and style, and this band will be awesome!!!

Killing Songs :
A Distant Paradox, Beware The Signs, Thorns And A Rose, and especially Fear And Loathing
Marty quoted 80 / 100
Other albums by Shadow Keep that we have reviewed:
Shadow Keep - Corruption Within reviewed by Danny and quoted 75 / 100
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