The Shattering - The Shattering Begins 2005

*Artist: The Shattering
*Album: The Shattering Begins
*Year: 2005
*Genre: Technical Death Metal
*Country: Sweden (Karlskrona, Blekinge)
*Format: mp3@192.

Tracklist

1. Next Door, Dead Whore 02:21
2. Enter Bullet 02:53
3. Damn Your Eyes 02:57
4. Grind the Face of Innocence 02:36
5. Stillborn 03:19
6. Scream of the Butterfly 02:40
7. Digging Up the Dead 02:40
8. Strain Every Nerve 02:37
9. Inside 02:38
10. Recoil 03:17
11. The Shattering 02:53

Total playing time: 30:51

While online one afternoon, listening to Spawn of Possession, a friend messaged me recommending The Shattering's cd, "The Shattering Begins." I went on to their MySpace, listened to "Next Door, Dead Whore" and thought I'd pick up the album. The production on the album is incredible. The tone is clear and definite (though it could use some more low frequencies), the drums are tight and well played (though obviously triggered), and there's nothing bad to be said about the sound of the vocals. I was glad I had picked up the album because this was the kind of technical death metal I like. Then I realized why I liked the music so much: its resemblance to Spawn of Possession's music. Spawn of Possession is one of my favorite bands and one would think that any band that imitates their sound would be just as good as the original influence. This is where the album starts to go wrong. Every track is a Spawn of Possession rip-off to some extent. I'm not going to say that they sound exactly like their Swedish contemporaries but the similarities are most definitely there; melodic passages, melody-based chordal changes, rhythmic changes and vocal patterns and placement. They don't pull off the technical death metal genre as well as Spawn of Possession but, despite all the likeness to their influencer, they did put together a very listen-able album. I did thoroughly enjoy "Next Door, Dead Whore" as well as "Digging Up The Dead" and "Stillborn" (with its industrial-sounding percussion at the beginning of the song). This album, while not one to blow me away, is a good one. It is short - a mere 30 minutes and 51 seconds - with nine of its eleven songs being shorter than 3 minutes. Their talent is showcased all over the album. I'd be looking forward to where they take future albums. In closing, pick this album up if you like Spawn of Possession or just good ol' fashioned technical death metal with great production. I give it an 80/100 for its technical showcasing, its production, and songwriting despite the likeness to Spawn of Possession.


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