Shadowake, an instrumental metal band from Canada, is currently gearing up to release its debut self-titled EP and it’s a great little listen that definitely ticks all the right boxes.
The Shadowake EP is a little different to a lot of instrumental music out there – on a general level, instrumental releases tend to lean more towards a proggy style with long, complicated tracks taking centre stage but this, however, is a very to-the-point listen in more of a metal vein and it makes it more interesting as a result. Shadowake have honed their sound into something unique to them, putting their own stamp on the music, making it coherent and engaging.
Although comprising of only four songs (you can bet I’m looking forward to a full-length album from them!) the EP is still very hard-hitting and will definitely remain with you after you’ve finished listening. Opener Solitude sets the scene well with a more atmospheric introduction and more chilled approach to the track that merges well into the heavier style of following track Reflection, which is more in-your-face. Meanwhile, penultimate track Escape is a little more gritty and quite an earworm thanks to the chugging guitar approaches that are revisited several times over the course of the track, and the EP closer Vitalize is a slightly more complex number that ends the release on a high.
All in all, a solid piece. Hopefully this will be the start of a long and illustrious career for Shadowake.
9/10
PREORDER LINKS
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/shadowake-ep/id1210233776
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XCGDYSY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_Nj.YybC1MAFHD
Bandcamp: https://shadowake.bandcamp.com/releases
