SHADE EMPIRE was born back in 1999. They initially signed to Italian Avantgarde Music and released 3 demos over the next 5 years as well as a debut full-length entitled “Sinthetic” in 2004. After touring and solidifying their sound, these Finnish lads are back with “Intoxicate O.S.” on Finland's Dynamic Arts Records.
SHADE EMPIRE are a bit difficult for this writer to classify. The listener is greeted with symphonic / orchestral synths, harsh vocals, rolling melodic guitarwork, and a pounding rhythm section. I venture to say that melodic death is mostly the name of the game however the more and more I listen to it I pick up the EMPEROR / DIMMU BORGIR-esque majesty not to mention vocalist Juha Harju does a pretty good Shagrath impersonation. Although SHADE EMPIRE spits melodic death, black, with a touch of avantgrade, I would have to say that these guys are pretty damn good. I haven't heard anything this intense and genre-clashing (in a good way) in quite some time.
The only detraction that I would say in SHADE EMPIRE's arsenal is perhaps “Intoxicate O.S.” is a bit too synth heavy giving it an electronic metal appeal. As melodic death is personally my favorite genre, I cannot totally say that a catchy keyboard run doesn't appeal to me however there is a point when I do wish that the guitars or the rhythm section would be brought to the forefront (a la CHILDREN OF BODOM). A bit more melodic diversity would be esily recognized as well from those sections. All in all, SHADE EMPIRE has the potential to be great, it's just going to take another album or two for SHADE EMPIRE to solidify their sound. “Intoxicate O.S.” is great in small meaty portions however on the whole, a bit frantic and synth heavy.
note: 6.8
Tracklist
Slitwrist Ecstasy
Bloodstar
Chemical God
Rat In A Maze
Soulslayers
Silver Fix
Embrace The Gods Of Suffering
Ravine
Hatefeast
Chemical God
Line-up
Juha Harju – Vocals
Janne Niiranen – Guitar
Juha Sirkkiä – Guitar
Eero Mantere – Bass
EpiDemic – Drums (session)
Olli Savolainen – Synth
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