Thy Darkened Shade

[Eoin McLove]

Ice seen this name over the years but never felt included to check them out. I'm reading an interview with the at the minute and thought I would give them a little spin to see if they would interest me. I'm pleasantly surprised. Very much so, in fact. Despite my tastes generally moving away from technical music in recent times these lads really manage to capture something with their hectic, restless riffing and constantly shifting arrangements. They manage to keep it all sounding melodic and grand, despite adding a thousand layers of frenetic instrumentation. It reminds me of the better moments from IX Equilibrium, but without the ear splitting production. There was also a section that reminded me of Agatus, which helps their cause 

https://thydarkenedshade.bandcamp.com/album/liber-lvcifer-ii-mahapralaya

[mickO)))]

Second album is the best but the first lp also has some good songs on it. Haven't heard the third yet as it was up on WTC for pre-order for what seemed like years and the vinyl only finally appeared recently. I currently have a pending order with the new lp and the amestigon split which is the only material I haven't heard / don't own.

If you like this stuff then check out 11 Dragons by Acrimonious it's the same guy behind thy darkened shade and is one of the many great releases in recent years that seems to have gone unnoticed by many people.

[Eoin McLove]

I have an Acherontas tape. I haven't listened to it in years but I remember it being good. I'll stick it on again later. I'll check out the first TDS album too.

[mickO)))]

Acherontas is a different band but they are all connected and have shared live members as everyone is based in Athens. For me Acherontas is better then both Thy Darkened Shade and Acrimonious. They have a big discography Vamachara if you haven't heard it would be the best place to start.