DREAMSHADE — What Silence Hides (review)

DREAMSHADE — What Silence Hides album cover Album · 2011 · Melodic Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
Time Signature
Wide awake...

Genre: melodeath

Dreamshade are categorized as a melodeath band and described as having metalcore tendencies. And, although melodeath and melodic metalcore have received a lot of flak these days - and, in some cases deservedly so - I think that Dreamshade's debut album prove that there is still quality melodeath to be heard.

There is a strong emphasis on melody on this album - both in terms of the riffage itself, a lot of which is ATG-derived uptempo riffage (which is one of the things that I really appreciate about melodeath), and in the use of guitar melodies and harmonies. And in terms of guitar work, Dreamshade deliver, as their guitar work is awesome. To further strengthen the melodic dimension, Dreamshade make heavy use of epic and quasi-symphonic keyboard effects.

And this is one of the things that I have a bit of a beef with. I think that the keyboard effects are superfluous because the guitar work is strong enough to stand on its own without assistance from any other instrumentation than the rhythm section, which is very solid by the way.

There are also a lot of granges and twists and turns going on, which as a slightly progressive edge to the music on this album.

Vocalswise, Dreamshade primarily make use of metalcore screams accompanied by some growling every now and then. All the screaming tends to get a bit monotonous in the long run, and I am wondering whether it would have been better with clean vocals all the way through. I mean, let's face it - melodeath has become so far removed from its death metal roots that growling and harsh vocals are perhaps not really needed anymore within this particular genre; plus clean vocals do add a more melodic tonal dimension than what growling and screaming does.

But, all in all, I think this is one of the better releases within the world of melodeath. Primarily because of the guitar work, and because - despite the focus on melody and the very polished production - there is still a lot of ass-kicking going on on this album. The metal energy is there.

This is an album for guitar lovers!
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Gaia Metalcore
RELATIONS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Decievers Deathcore
ORACLE SPECTRE
Buy this album from MMA partners
A Fountain Of Anguish Is Gone Sludge Metal
TIGGUO COBAUC
Buy this album from MMA partners
Colossal Oppressor Sludge Metal
TEN TON SLUG
Buy this album from MMA partners
Tribus Rattus Mortuus Atmospheric Sludge Metal
TRAP RATT
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Relations - Schwarzes Blut - 2020 - Lyric Video
RELATIONS
Bosh66· 11 hours ago
RELATIONS - SHELTER (Official Video)
RELATIONS
Bosh66· 11 hours ago
RELATIONS - NIGHT LIGHTS (Official Video)
RELATIONS
Bosh66· 11 hours ago
ORACLE SPECTRE - VOIDSAYER (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO) [2023]
ORACLE SPECTRE
Bosh66· 11 hours ago
WOMBMOTHER | ORACLE SPECTRE (LYRIC VIDEO)
ORACLE SPECTRE
Bosh66· 11 hours ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed