Shadow of Intent – Elegy

February 8, 2022 by Mikro IMP in Music ⋅ Review

For an unsigned band (!) these US metallers already made a pretty decent name for themselves in the deathcore ranks. Personally I don’t consider them deathcore, as they lean more into death metal with symphonic elements and brutal delivery, which distinguishes them from their peers.

While their previous album Melancholy was more gripping from the start, Elegy requires a few more listens to digest it completely. This small issue is caused mostly by length of the album.

The album has beautiful orchestrations by the Francesco Ferrini (Fleshgod Apocalypse) that fit songs perfectly and not being over the top. Farewell starts the album with the symphonic intro that shifts into blast beat driven ferocious attack on listener. Swift guitar riffs and Ben Duerr’s guttural vocals are here to tell you just what to expect from this album. The album is packed with groove like in Saurian King, Life of Exile or From Ruins… We Rise, with some songs being intertwined with blast beats and pummeling breakdowns like in Intensified Genocide’s. That song’s closing barrage of brutal vocal delivery of “They bathe in the blood / Blade unjust lost control / Into the furnace, into the hole” is just top notch. Guitar solos, beautiful melodies and few spots for clean vocals complete the album that rarely has weak moments.

The only minor issue this album has, like I said, is maybe the length of the whole thing. Meaning it requires from the listener to make more time for repeat listens to fully appreciate it. Sure, this could have been trimmed down a bit, but than we would loose some great songs from the album.

I also have to point out the guest vocals from Phil Bozeman (Whitechapel) on song Where Millions Have Come To Die and Chuck Billy (Testament) on Blood in the Sands of Time. Honestly I couldn’t recognize them. They are either too similar with Ben’s style, or they’re just lost in the mix. They’re both good songs, just the guest spots feel underused here. Those are just minor things that don’t affect the quality of this album.

Besides the catchy songs like The Coming Fire or Of Fury, the highlight of the album comes in the closing 13-minute title song Elegy. Divided into 3 parts, the song transcends from intro laden Elegy I: Adapt with clean vocals and guitar solo. Continuing to Elegy II: Devise the song picks up on tempo with slamming bass tones and rumbling drums. Fading again into the Elegy III: Overcome, the closing chapter builds up on what came before and sounds even bigger. Combining this trilogy gives the album an epic conclusion that justifies the somewhat lengthy album running time.

If Melancholy put the band on the metal map, Elegy will certainly further expand their presence on the scene. And contrary to some pessimistic lyrical themes, the future is bright for Shadow of Intent.

Shadow of Intent – Elegy 8/10

Mikro IMP

Check out Shadow of Intent’s official site for merch and music of your desired region here: https://www.shadowofintent.com/

Listen to Elegy on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1YwAkYsGTgNMWaayCgxjsb?si=D6YsZFfoRPKnUiy7SZCy4w

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