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Facing The Fallout

      
         
         
         
     
             
Shadowbane are a power metal band from Germany formed in 2011 who released their debut album in 2015.    
             
Shadowbane describe themselves as "post apocalyptic power metal" and the one minute intro 'Red Alert' does set that kind of scene with its atmospheric vibe. Typical of European power metal bands, 'Beyond The Winds Of War' opens with a huge, bombastic guitar riff and proceeds to foot stomp majestically on past. Twin guitars and a thunderous rhythm echo everything that power metal is famous for. With clean vocals and sparkling guitar solos 'Traitor' picks up the pace and thunders on with an anthemic style, catchy chorus. The chugging guitars are infectious and very heavy. The six minute plus epic 'Under Bleeding Skies' is of Iron Maiden-esque proportions, with a heavy melodic stomp, powerful vocals and plenty of variation to keep the listener interested.    
             
As every heavy metal fan knows, Germany have a long and unrivalled history for producing power metal bands, with Shadowbane destined to become a part of that history too. 'After The Fallout' is an angrier, more in your face style of song with 'Dystopia' heavying things up with one of the best chugging rhythms on the album. 'Dystopia' both thunders and pounds relentlessly, keeping heads banging and feet stomping...hard! Picking up the pace and racing off at high speed, similar to their legendary countrymen Helloween, is 'Tear Down The Wall'. High intensity and thunderous, clean and clear vocals, you will find yourself punching the air, shouting the chorus in unison with every other metal head and enjoying the blistering guitar solos.    
             
'Badlands Law' is blunt and brash, in your face with a small amount of aggression thrown in. Very heavy, 'Badlands Law' is like a bull stampede: an unstoppable rampage of thunderous pace and power. The sound of bombastic European power metal guitar riffing is such an immense pleasurable sound that it is with excitement 'Last Division' opens with a jaw dropping riff. Great bands like Gamma Ray, Iron Savior and Primal Fear all embody the German power metal sound and Shadowbane are up there with them. Finishing the album off in style is the fast paced, speed metal 'Source Of Grief' with guitars blazing, rampant rhythms and powerful vocals. This is definitely an album you'll want to play over and over again.    
             
Overall, following the grand tradition of German power metal, this album is packed full of thunderous, pulsating and addictive power metal anthems.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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