Time Signature Inner monster out...

Genre: heavy/power/groove metal

Apparently having changed their musical direction from a more traditional power metal sound to heavier and groovier sound, Brazilian metallers Shadowside deliver something in between groove metal, modern metal and power metal on their third album "Inner Monster Out".

Most tracks draw on heavy and groovy riffage, combining them with compelling vocal melodies and, at times, elements from modern pop music, Shadowside have certainly created music which should have broad appeal inside and outside of the metal community. Granted, personally, I find the more poppy elements a bit of a turn-off, but the heavy grooves and Dani Nolden's powerful voice more than make up for that (just check out a track like 'In the Name of Love' or a track like 'Inner Monster Out' or 'I'm Your Mind'). While the overall sound is more akin to modern melodic metal, the band retain the epic choruses associated with power metal.

The musicianship is top notch, and the production is clean and crisp with a very modern edge. As mentioned, Singer Dani Nolden has a very powerful voice, and I should also mention that the guitar solos are pretty impressive and technically advanced.

Shadowside have been accused of sounding like something that would come out of the stereo of a teenage wannabe metalhead. Well, I'm in my thirties, I don't have a stereo (iPod's my choice), and I am definitely not wannabe, and still I think this album is pretty damn good.

Phonebook Eater 5/10

"Inner Monster Out" sounds like the music that would come out the stereo of the average wannabe metalhead teenager.

Shadowside is a Heavy/Power Metal band from Brazil, and the've been a pretty big hit in their country, thanks mostly to their 2007 debut "Theatre Of Shadows", and the follow up "Dare To Dream". "Inner Monster Out" is the most mature release so far, that has an overall better sound and good musicianship, but I expected so much more from Shadowside.

While in their earlier days the band had a pretty stereotyped Power Metal sound and attitude, in "Inner Monster Out" all that is gone, and replacing them there's a much more straight-forward, focused style, that could remind (and is part of) the newest Heavy Metal wave that is composed almost always of Nu Metal or Alternative Metal bands. Strong, heavy riffs, powerful female vocals, sung by Dani Nolden,and good, expensive sounding production. There are some moments where the musicians show their talent in playing their instruments, but, like I said, this album is not at all adventurous thus these moments are very rare. Plus, many moments,unfortunately, I found annoying and very cheesy, which was a disappointment for me. Shadowside's influences are pretty noticeable, we got some post- Brave New World Iron Maiden here and there, some Nightwish, or bands like Bullet For My Valentine, Killswitch Engage, or Soilwork, and generally a lot of Nu Metal bands that have that same kind of feel. Nothing I hear from Shadowside is new, for the exception of singer, who is truly talented and beautiful too, if I may.

The album is pretty consistent, maybe a little too much; as a matter of fact, some songs sound not really the same, but very similar to each other, and as a consequence you tend to remember only a few moments, while others just seem to be easily forgotten. The best song here is "Angel With Horns", nice hook and good performance by the musicians. "In The Name Of Love" is another track I don't mind, and the title track, which features some death growls as well as a few guest spots, is pretty decent as well. But most of these tracks I tend to forget, because of their strong similarities to each other.

Overall it was an OK listen, an album I certainly would not recommend to metal purists. It sounds like the music that would come out from a stereo of the average wannabe metalhead teenager. However if you're into Nu Metal, straight-forward Power Metal, or that Melodic Metalcore sound, you might enjoy it more than I did.