Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
There’s nothing shadowy or mysterious about how 2 Shadows’ music achieves its effects on listeners.
The Vancouver, Canada-based duo’s near cinematic verve for songwriting coupled with the immense physicality of their music makes for an undeniable presence. It isn’t many bands, of any genre, that you can point to and say, hey, they handle nuance with the same aplomb as outright directness. 2 Shadows can and does. More impressively, they make it sound effortless.
The band’s new single “Mad God” kicks things off with evocative musical sleight of hand. We’re seemingly poised for an atmospheric ballad centering on piano and vocals. 2 Shadows, however, detours into take-no-prisoners guitar riffing courtesy of Tryst Germaine. It’s a stark contrast moving from the moody meditative elegance of Glen Bridden’s voice and piano during the initial portion of the song into the raucous hellfire that ensues.
It’s well worth it, however, and never sounds ramrodded together. The key is that Germaine’s six-string work sustains, in its own imitable fashion, the same mood heard during the introduction. “Mad God” dials up the intensity to 10 and then smashes the knob – even the shifts back into quieter passages provide negligible relief, at best, for listeners. There is no respite, no escape.
Glen Bridden marries raw power, a soulful wail, and canny phrasing together to leave an indelible mark on the performance. You finish “Mad God” with no doubt that this prodigiously talented singer could pull this vocal off for any live audiences. It’s far from a studio concoction. His seemingly effortless shift from full-on wail to near-hushed sensitivity is the stuff that legends are made of.
The song construction has exquisite timing. The most impressive part, however, is the naturalness it achieves. You never hear 2 Shadows straining for effect or in an effort to make the parts cohere; “Mad God”, instead, comes together as if the song was always there and awaiting the right band to come along and pluck it out of the ether.
Mission accomplished. They pull it off with maximum drama that, nevertheless, avoids ever sounding heavy-handed. Instead, “Mad God” pulverizes any resistance with its assertive confidence, skillful playing, intelligent lyrical content, and straight-forward instances of undiluted power. 2 Shadows have been slugging it out in the trenches and building a solid career over the past several years, and “Mad God” shows that they’re operating at another level of their considerable powers. Metal fans both young and old will appreciate this well-rounded modern classic in the making.
It checks off all of the boxes. You never get the sense either that they are pandering to a specific audience. 2 Shadows tick off influences as diverse as Asking Alexandra, Rammstein, and Avenged Sevenfold, among others, but they aren’t making any particular play for those fans. They are, at risk of cliché, being true to themselves first and foremost. It pays off. 2 Shadows’ “Mad God” is a blistering example of modern metal at its invigorating best and one of the Vancouver, Canada band’s finest moments yet recorded. There will be more triumphs to come.
Loren Sperry
