Shadowside are a female-fronted band from Santos, Brazil. They released a demo EP in 2001, Theatre Of Shadows (2005), Dare To Dream (2009) and Inner Monster Out (2011). Their second album (Dare To Dream) became one of the best selling metal albums in Brazil and appearing on several “Best of the year” lists. In late 2010, they embarked on a long European tour as support to W.A.S.P. and in early 2011 they supported Iron Maiden in Rio de Janeiro.
The current line-up is Dani Nolden (vocals & keyboards), Raphael Mattos (guitar), Ricardo Piccoli (bass) and Fabio Buitvidas (drums). ‘Inner Monster Out’ was mixed and mastered at Studio Fredman [Dimmu Borgir, At The Gates, In Flames], with the artwork by Felipe Machado Franco [Blind Guardian, Rhapsody of Fire, Iced Earth]. The style is power metal with some thrash influences and could be compared to Sevendust and Halestorm.
There is no preamble, they charge straight into ‘Gag Order’ with Dani’s tough-guy vocals and rampaging shredding. Next up is one of my favourites ‘Angel With Horns’ with its crunchy riffs and soaring vocals. “I am the innocence you wish / you could have kept, you had within / I am the evil that you hide / that lives inside you everyday / When you ask me the reason why / I screw with your mind, make you cry / You’ll find the answer deep inside / Just close your eyes”.
It is especially worth mentioning the molten intensity of the guitar solos by Raphael Mattos that you find scattered throughout the album. Also there is a good balance with the vocals that allows space for both elements to dominate at different times without competing with each other. This balance is maintained in the title track, which features guest vocals by Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquillity), Björn “Speed” Strid (Soilwork) and Niklas Isfeldt (Dream Evil).
‘Inner Monster Out’ takes some of its inspiration from Dexter and Hannibal Lecter. And ‘My Disrupted Reality’ takes us on a journey where reality is flexible. What is real to one person may not be real to another, and this is explored through seeing a ghost.
As they are all fans of Motörhead, they decided to do their own cover version of ‘Ace Of Spades’ where Dani chews up the words and spits them out with extra venom. All hail the Angel with horns.
Rating: 9/10
Reviewed by Peter John Willoughby
Tracks:
01. Gag Order
02. Angel with Horns
03. Habitchual
04. In the Name of Love
05. Inner Monster Out
06. I’m Your Mind
07. My Disrupted Reality
08. A Smile Upon Death
09. Whatever Our Fortune
10. A.D.D.
11. Waste of Life
12. Ace of Spades (bonus track)
Shadowside line-up:
Dani Nolden – Vocals
Raphael Mattos – Guitars
Rocardo Piccoli – Bass
Fabio Buitvidas – Drums
Shadowside discography:
2001: Shadowside EP [Independent]
2005: Theatre of Shadows [Seven Music]
2009: Dare to Dream [Chavis Records]
2012: Inner Monster Out [Inner Wound Recordings]
Record Label: Inner Wound Recordings, , 2012