FRENZY FIRE

    

METAL & ROCK REVIEWS

    
             
HOME            
REVIEWS            
ARTISTS            
UPCOMING            
LINKS            
             

 

     
   
   
       
       

Fractured Visions Of The Mind

    
       
       
       
     
             
Shocker are a heavy metal band from Belgium formed in 2018 releasing their self titled debut E.P. in 2021, and full length debut album 'Fractured Visions Of The Mind' in 2023.    
             
The Belgian quintet - Sammy Peleman (vocals), Koen Vanassche (bass), Chris Dedeurwaerder (guitar, keyboards), David Vandewalle (guitar), and Louis Genovese (drums) - are not content to be pigeon-holed into just the one genre of metal, spreading their musical horizons far and wide. Each member of the band has their own ideas, everyone feeding off each other, resulting in a varied, and intriguing array of metal - so prepare yourselves for a gauntlet running, genre hopping, diverse range of songs across forty six meandering minutes!    
             
Kicking the album into gear, the one and a half minute instrumental 'Shattered', could well introduce a sci-fi movie, the effects laden and spooky intro overlaid with a spoken word passage setting the scene for what's about to unfold - 'Injecting The Parasite' storming into life with a thunderous attitude and a highly progressive nature, the band right from the off exploring a myriad of metal styles! And that's pretty much how the rest of the album pans out, Shocker running the gamut of heavy metal's sub genres, 'Stranded On The Borderline' planting one foot firmly on the monitor to adopt the classic pose of traditional metal, an air of menace rising high in the air. The kinda menace you get with many songs from shock rock's grandmaster Alice Cooper, the Belgian outfit revelling in the sinister driven, yet melodious atmosphere.    
             
And with a more mid tempo hustle and bustle feel, 'Where Shrinking Violets Grow' maintains the albums strong progressive nature, adopting a mighty old school swagger straight outta the eighties heyday for heavy metal evolution. Much more a trot than a gallop, 'Where Shrinking Violets Grow' remains steadfast at the heavier end of the metal genre, keeping every metalhead hooked and head banging vigorously! The relentless underlying chug of 'Fractured Visions Of The Mind' keeps the album moving forward with purpose and a high infectious level, 'Sands Of Time' bringing a more majestic aura to the fore than heard anywhere previously, Shocker pounding the ground hard with a bold anthemic feel. 'Sands Of Time' does change identity as it strides on, swinging this way and that yet remaining fully within the boundaries of heavy metal. And bringing a more atmospheric and epic nature to the fore, 'Time Does Not Heal' begins in the mellowest fashion heard on the album so far, blending ballad traits with hymn-like nuances, the band heavying it up to deliver the pounding you get from a sledge hammer smashing concrete! So keep all your lighters in your pockets, refrain from swaying side to side, 'Time Does Not Heal' ain't a ballad.    
             
Nor is 'Survive The Night', a bombastic barrage of hard hitting heavy metal striding outta the speakers, listeners everywhere resuming the vigorous head banging of earlier, Shocker continuing their incredible meander around every nook and cranny of heavy metal territory! The album has been so varied up to this point, covering many of metals sub-genres, opening the bands music up to an extremely wide array of metallers, the title song 'Fractured Visions Of The Mind' featuring the iconic, and instantly recognisable guitar sound of the legendary NWOBHM evolution. 'Fractured Visions Of The Mind' (the song) is the longest song on offer, clocking in at almost seven minutes in length, displaying some of the fastest heavy metal too - the band changing through the gears to gallop forth with much more intent than heard anywhere else on the album. Bringing 'Fractured Visions Of The Mind' (the album) to a close, 'And So It Has Begun' is the eeriest song featured on the album, the band very much at home delivering a mid tempo brand of metal with high levels of menace and atmosphere.    
             
Overall, a varied and immensely wide array of songs, Shocker deliver from every corner of the heavy metal genre.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Vlad Promotion    
             
             
Top