ALL MY SHADOWS: Eerie Monsters (HEAVY METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

"Eerie Monsters" is the first album of All My Shadows, a band derived from Vanden Plas, a project that is supposed to be less progressive (based on shorter songs and without tempo changes) and more oriented towards an 80's style FM hard rock with choirs, guitar soli in each track and a very wide and clean sound close to modern Metal. The approach could be reminiscent of Ghost's, whose ability to compose "songs" is not very far from it. For it is this ability to create anthems that makes All My Shadows interesting.

First of all, Andy Kutz's voice impresses by its mastery and its almost lyrical side, allowing the singer not to remain confined to a Metal register. The guitars of Stephan Lill, the project's orchestra master, are sharp and the keyboards, with their very 80's sounds, are to be found everywhere.

Compared to Vanden Plas, All My Shadows is simpler and more direct. The band members claim to be inspired by Whitesnake and Ozzy Osbourne among others but it is possible to mention Bon Jovi for the work on the vocals. However, the whole thing doesn't necessarily sound just 80's, thanks in particular to the contribution of Andreas Lill's double pedal (also from Vanden Plas) and to some thick guitar sounds that make the whole thing more current.

"Eerie Monsters" is a very homogeneous and efficient album that makes you want to sing along, especially on some songs that have everything to be anthems ('Silent Waters', 'Syrens'). It offers the same guilty pleasure as listening to Ghost with catchy melodies and choruses that stick in your head. Fans of Vanden Plas will remain on familiar ground, the others will perhaps take advantage of this enjoyable album to discover them... - Official website

ALL MY SHADOWS

EERIE MONSTERS

FRONTIERS RECORDS

HEAVY METAL