Chuck Schuldiner Project

Monday, May 11, 2015

Valkyrie - Shadows


Valkyrie are an endlessly interesting band to me, sure, they've got members of Baroness and sure, they've been around since 2002 and it makes sense that they've got their sound worked out -but there is so much more to them than that. With an emphasis on epic soundscapes couched between moments of vocal triumph Shadows sees the band at their best, guiding the listener on a journey across the forests and the fjords towards a world of gut crushing riffs, powerful guitarmonies and epic solos - a rock and roll journey for the masses.

See - what I think these guys have managed to do is to craft a sort of... easy listening sound... if that makes any sense at all. Or at least, metal that doesn't necessarily have to be in the fore, you can chill out to these guys is what I'm saying. Valkyrie are a lot of fun to listen too and their songs are incredibly intricate, but it's also the kind of thing that relies heavily on vibe (Which is pretty rad, especially when done as well as these dudes do it). You find yourself envisioning grand worlds unlike any you've seen before. Valkyrie have managed to invoke the power of Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden and run it through a largely  instrumental context, crafting music that can't help but capture the imagination - truly rock and roll at it's finest hour.

There is something mystical about the voyage Valkyrie take you on - hell, the point of Shadows seems to be the journey, not the destination anyway. Shadows is almost an exploration of the self, there is something intensely personal about the music found within and trying to delve into the strange universe it paints is exciting. Couched in familiar ideas and using powerful Pentagram-esque vocals to keep things interesting Valkyrie are not going away, but instead rising harder and stronger - prepare your body.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/thevalkyrierides?fref=ts

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