Heavy metal is a genre known for pulling no punches in its high-octane intensity. However, the softer motifs of the genre are often understated in their own power. For Negativehate and their latest album, “Shapeshifter,” the alluring nature of the softer and more contemplative sounds are set up beautifully before making way for the pure power of heavy metal aesthetics. This is felt from the top with the first track.
“Infinity Bias” kicks things off with tapping percussion and dreamy guitars that bring you into the dreamlike aesthetic of the track. The deep bass crawls beneath the ambient charm of the track and combines with the vocal performance to give the track a grounded element. The contemplative crooning of Chuck Scandura, Freedom Scheyd and Mike Stewart effectively lure the listener in until they shatter the soft aesthetic around the 2:30 minute mark when the guitars begin to thrash and the vocal power gets turned up. It gives “Infinity Bias” a dynamic edge that feels natural and not a total flip in tone, making it a strong start for the album.
“Dreams Of The Yellow King” hits the ground running with powerful vocals and menacing guitars backed up by pulse-pounding percussion. The vocals of Chuck Scandura have a sinister allure as he screams “I have traveled from the stars, trembled before the Gods. They have called out to me!” It gives the track a commanding presence that never lets up, spearheaded by the guitars and their dreadfully oppressive melodies. It makes “Dreams Of The Yellow King” a track that metalheads everywhere will get down with, especially for those who love the deep grooves and dark guitar melodies.
The title track begins with a psychedelic sitar backed up by a strong, tribal style drum beat that feels unsettlingly uplifting. The vocal performance is just as trippy, with the deep voices of the vocalists twisting alongside the music. The track kicks into high gear as the guitars get as heavy as percussion and begins to shred the track apart. The vocals go from dark, slow and contemplative to strong and loud then back again, with lyrics that reflect this twisting of aesthetics. Lines such as “Two worlds collide, one in air and one in mind” and “what’s to come will be told, ghosts will rise, they will dwell” characterize the shifts in tone perfectly and do a great job of immersing you into the sounds.
“Hrethgir” is another track that begins things with a dreamy aesthetic, but kicks itself up quick with a catchy guitar riff and a percussion that pops. The bass brings a powerful groove that asserts itself in a way that can get you moving. The composition and production of the track is great, with dynamic beats and echoing guitars that move through your head as the drums and bass hit you on either side. When it’s not moving through your head, the guitars thrash with a head-banging gusto. These moments come and go, but are absolutely some of the most memorable on this nearly 8-minute monster track and you’ll want to listen till the end for its epic metal finale.
“Shapeshifter” is a metal album with something for everyone. The softer musical motifs work incredibly well with the face-melting elements of heavy metal aesthetics. The title track shows this off well, as does the 8-minute monster track “Hrethgir.” There’s also some pure metal tracks such as “Dreams Of The Yellow King” and “Echo Paradigm” for those looking for something to headbang to. It adds up to make “Shapeshifter” an easy album to recommend, especially to the heavy metal fan.
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