SHADES OF DUSK „“Caress the Despair””

Music: Melodic Death Metal
Country: Canada
Website: www.shadesofdusk.ca
Cool Songs: Upon Burning Wings, Shades of Dusk, The Mournful Dawn of Existence

Bands like IN FLAMES and AT THE GATES have spawned a large international following with their brand of melodic, emotional death metal. Some bands are poor knockoffs of the sound; while others have looked to the conventions of this style for inspiration to create something that is uniquely their own. Quebec, Canada’s SHADES OF DUSK fall into the later category.

‘Caress the Despair’ is an album in the tradition of such revered bands as DARK TRANQUILITY and DETONATION. Lyrically and structurally much of the said album recalls the early days of DARK TRANQUILITY, most notably the ‘Nightfall’ era. The guitar duo of Louis-Philippe and Samuel Desjardins make use of hanging, string-bent, high notes to create melody. Although much of their style recalls DARK TRANQUILITY, their use of acoustics and other organic instruments are more in line with AT THE GATES. Besides the intro to “Into the Abyss of Torments” and “Shades of Dusk,” acoustics are seldom used; instead, the band relies almost entirely on their electric instruments for harmonious effect.

Without use of acoustics and classical instrumentation, the group expertly plays a variety of picking styles and tempo changes to create aggressive, memorable riffs. Rhythms like the one found on “Within the Milestones” climb dramatically in pitch to create intensity. Other rhythms consist of chugging gallops like the main rhythm on “As Daylight Fades.” What ever tempo or style the duo chooses; the rhythms are bound to influence the listener to bang his/her head. Drummer, Oliver Beauregard busily bridges the changes with a barrage of snare pounds and machine-like double bass. Some of the group’s music recalls other classic metal bands like IRON MAIDEN at the beginning of “Mournful Dawn of Existence” and the speed picking of KREATOR on “Upon Burning Wings.”

Vocally, the group is quite diverse with one vocalist projecting his voice in the scratchy, semi-black metal vociferations patented by Gothenburg pioneers like Tomas Lindberg and Anders Fridén and the other growling in an intelligible death metal grunt. The traditional shrieks are full of torment, reflecting the poet lyrics of inner conflict. Although the two bands slightly differ stylistically, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER is a good comparison in the vocal department.

SHADES OF DUSK bring a newfound life to a sub-genre in desperate need of something invigorating and new. With IN FLAMES opting for a mall-friendly, nu-metal sound, and AT THE GATES long since disbanding, SHADES OF DUSK have all the tools necessary to join DARK TRANQUILITY and DETONATION as one of the world’s foremost melodic death bands!

note: 8.5/10

Tracklist

1. Shaped to Symbolize
2. Carved Within the Milestones
3. The Mournful Dawn of Existence
4. A Dreadful Melody
5. Into the Abyss of Torments
6. As Daylight Fades
7. Caress the Despair
8. Upon Burning Wings
9. Shades of Dusk
Total playing time 43:55

Line-up

Joffrey Chouinard – Vocals
Louis-Philippe Leroux – Guitar
Samuel Desjardins – Guitar
Julien Rodrigue – Bass
Sébastien Pilon – Drums