FRENZY FIRE

    

METAL & ROCK REVIEWS

    
             
HOME            
REVIEWS            
ARTISTS            
UPCOMING            
LINKS            
             

     
     
     
         
         

The Master's Way

      
         
         
         
     
             
Sins Of Shadows are a heavy metal band from France, forming in 2013, releasing two E.P.'s - 'Sins Of Shadows' (2014) and 'Today's The Day' (2016) - with their first full length album 'The Master's Way' a 2020 release.    
             
Combining elements of traditional heavy metal (Iron Maiden, Iced Earth) and the more progressive side of metal (Symphony X, Ayreon), Sins Of Shadows debut album features some new songs, and some re-arranged versions of the songs that appeared on their 2016 E.P. 'Today's The Day' - and in my review, I'm not gonna tell you which song came from where...fans will know, and new listeners can figure it out for themselves... So here we go - Sins Of Shadows launch their debut full length offering with the title song 'The Master's Way', carving a storming path across the wasteland. For that is what'll be left behind after Sins Of Shadows pass through... The heavy, up tempo, full of energy rollicking opening salvo, will turn heads wherever it is heard. And as a follow up, 'A Man In The Crowd' increases the pace, adopting traditional heavy metals "foot on the monitor" feel. 'A Man In The Crowd' packs a huge punch and a deafening roar as it fizzes by in a flash.    
             
Changing pace and tone, 'Not In My World' slows the pace of the album to an almighty foot stomp, a heavy mid tempo march of crushing heavy metal bordering on the thrash metal genre. The vocal performance of the bands "belle" singer Elena, takes on a more symphonic feel than the out and out powerful heavy metal one heard on the opening double dose. The French metallers have set a very high standard over the albums first three songs - fingers crossed for the rest of the album to remain at this standard. And blimey! The opening riffage to 'Today's The Day' would not go amiss on a thrash metal album - the riff so savage it'll snap bones. 'Today's The Day' is a thundering beast, snarling from start to finish, ripping the airways to shreds. What a song... And the vocal performance by Elena - fantastique. And for the first time the progressive side of Sins Of Shadows emerges for 'Far From Me' - the album so far coming straight out of the heavy metal genre. 'Far From Me' offers the pace and power of traditional heavy metal, but reins it in just a little bit.    
             
At just three and a half minutes in length, 'The Mountain' is the shortest song on offer, continuing the progressive nature of the previous song. The addictive nature of 'The Mountain' is off the chart, with the music standing loud and proud, for 'The Mountain' has no vocals... What it has got, is a change of pace, hurtling toward its end like a runaway steamroller. By contrast 'Sense Of Hope' is the longest song on offer, chiming in at nearly nine minutes in length...a mellow beginning and soulful vocals give way to a thundering stampede of mild aggression. And those symphonic vocals of earlier make an emphatic return, as Elena produces a soaring performance. The curtain is brought down on a very good album by 'My Lost City', and the highest soaring vocal performance by Elena, reaching heights never heard before on the album - simplement renversant... As for the music, we take a wander through ballad territory here, introducing all manner of musical instruments, throwing in some folk nuances, and soft rock power balladry. An unexpected, but delightful, ending to a cracking album.    
             
Overall, a rampant romp of highly energetic heavy metal, with powerful vocals and plenty of infectious grooves to keep you hooked.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
Top