MaximumMetal.com
When it comes to the more modern efforts floating around the underground and on Best Buy shelves worldwide, it is really difficult to find the forest for the trees. With so many bands seemingly sprouting all over it is really hard to surf through them all to find an ounce of talent. After so many long hours spent surfing metal sites, music sites, labels, download portals, and endless emails, sometimes you stumble on a band like Shattersphere, a modern rock band that just has "IT". Yeah, that "IT" is really the most important thing. Some bands have "IT". Some bands don't.
Shattersphere's first demo, "In The Face Of Anger", has really found itself in my player for the better part of three months. I've held off reviewing it just to make sure my thoughts were in order. They are, and I bring to you this short little message in hopes that you will strut on over to the band's site and give them a listen yourself. If you enjoy strong, tough grooves ala Prong and Fight, but still like a good pop sensibility about the craft, then Shattersphere is the perfect band. Their merging of pop songwriting and furious charges is a winning formula, a brilliant creation that really sets a new standard for others to follow. While bands like Linkin Park and Disturbed struggle with the same scenario album after album, Shattersphere have found a way to take that formula and remake it, to sort of bend and mold it into a whole new portal, a brand new vision that is a driving force.
Certainly the opening cut, "In The Face Of Anger", will leave you breathless with it's huge stomp riffs and "gang" chants. But beyond that comes a dramatic sense of melody and understanding. The clean vocals are the perfect addition, almost playing the part of the calm eye in the hurricane. Next track, "Faithless", is easily one of the best songs of the year. The "hook" here is the fantastic piano sound, mixed in with amazing clean "pop" singing that moves into a more aggressive stance through the chorus parts. "To No Avail" captures some Thin Lizzy/Maiden styled twin guitar harmony, really moving the track in the same direction as older bands like Pyogenesis and Suidakra. The last song here, "The Usurper", moves quite a bit more atmospheric, a brooding sense of dread and despair before moving into a "new wave of American heavy metal" sound with some quick thrash riffing like Trivium/Bullet For My Valentine.
Overall this demo should please fans ranging from Paradise Lost and Farmer Boys to Shadows Fall and Linkin Park. Hopefully this is just the beginning and the band will soon land a deal. It is really a shame to see bands like God Forbid, Unearth, and Manntis pick up contracts while Shattersphere just sits by the roadside. This is a fantastic demo and one that should move the band closer to the Ozzfest stage where they belong!
The Temple of Metal
"I believe that Shattersphere has catch the point of the music nowadays and they offer what the listener wants to hear. If you are into this kind of music you can check them, it is a promising band for the future."
Born To Die Magazine
"The whole of material is even very diverse...I think, that the material "In The Face Of Anger" is the new better face of the band."
1HeavyMetal.com
"...Shattersphere calls to instantly calls to mind Pantera with their thick chugging riffs. However, the band also shows a diverse side to the relentless assault during the track "Faithless" with its hushed piano parts before rocking out...."
Born To Die Magazine
"...Hard rhythmical riffs, melodious tones...drummer's powerful knocks control sedate tempo which one sometimes strengthens intensity...The melodious and both sharp voice of vocalist is just suplement of the whole..."
CTMusic.com
"This Northwestern Connecticut based metal band is just that, METAL, in all of its unadulterated glory. Remember long haired head banging? They've got that. Remember fast heavy guitars assaulted by smoking bass lines and blast beats that had you convulsing in mosh? They've got that too....Shattersphere will blow your mind and shatter your metal loving spheres."
The Edge Underground
"Metal, metal, metal from Connecticut, this four piece definetly brings out their own unique sound in the 9 song CD. My favorite song, 'The Concept of Infinity", is all instrumental and features an awesome keyboard sound and interesting drum fills that makes you want to put the whole thing on replay."
The Metal Observer
"SHATTERSPHERE is one of the more interesting bands I have had the pleasure to listen to. From the opening track Lost In The Flames they set the pace on the CD to completely kick your ass. I can see many people enjoying the CD and this is a great first attempt. It will be a pleasure to see what they have in store for us in the future.
