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2 Shadows Show They Are Ready For Prime Time With New Song “Mad God”

Somehow I missed hearing 2 Shadows until now. I intend to redress that oversight with this review. The pair of lead singer Glen Bridden and guitarist Tyrst Germaine first banded together as 2 Shadows in 2015 yet still deliver new music with every bit of the passion you’d expect from a hungry debuting act with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove. They are in full effect during their new single “Mad God” and, frankly, I haven’t heard metal this immediate and bracing in many years. This band is definitely ready for prime time and I don’t think there’s any stopping them.

Tryst Germaine’s mammoth guitar sound will be a big reason why. It is one of the chief characteristics of their music that I believe separates 2 Shadows from many of their brethren. It immediately dominated the song once it entered the picture in full force, but I must say that it never diminishes the vocal. This is because both Tryst’s guitar, as well as other elements of the song, are so well produced that there isn’t a single component that stands out at the expense of another.

Glen Bridden may be the only singer alive who could keep up with him and this demanding track. Segueing from the bleak and ruminative opening featuring his voice and piano into the six-string bloodletting that follows isn’t something every vocalist can do. He does and, in my opinion, makes it sound easy. He hits many particularly thrilling high points during the song’s more aggressive sections that will leave all but the hardest of hearts thrilled by his musical presence.

Presence is something that this song and band have in abundance. I mentioned that Germaine’s guitar has an all-consuming sound, but it’s really the band as a whole that cannot be denied. The opening section with its piano and singing creates a world all its own without ever seeming like some sort of put on. There’s no doubt in my mind that 2 Shadows would still make music together even if they never recorded another note. These guys are “lifers” and you hear it in their voice and playing alike.

It ends conclusively bookended by the same quiet atmospherics that begins the song. It’s another indication of how the band began the recording process for this track with a clear imaginative vision and followed it through to its logical conclusion. Their focus pays off with one of the most thunderous metal/hard rock tracks in recent memory high and leaves a mark on listeners.

There’s so much music out there and so little time. 2 Shadows simply hadn’t landed on my radar yet. Well, they’re here now, and here they’ll stay. As an older metal fan, I am thrilled to hear a band that likes living on a creative knife edge, but I’m even happier to hear a band that compromises nothing and says take us as we are because we aren’t going anywhere. The single “Mad God” proves 2 Shadows will be with us for some time to come and we, as music fans, are better off for it.

Brent Musgrave

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Album Review

Brynja Rán finds clarity in complicated relationships on “Unblurred” [album]

It can be hard to see when a relationship no longer meets your emotional needs, especially when affection, uncertainty, and repeated disappointment are hard to untangle. “Unblurred,” an album built on the bedrock of emotional unavailability, recurring conflict, and the slow dawning that a relationship might need to end, is where Brynja Rán unpacks that difficult process.

The ten songs follow the arc of attachment and frustration, weaving together the story of someone trying to figure out what they deserve. The focus track, “Unblurred Lines,” hits on the album’s central concept. This is when the veils begin to fall, and the person is more ready to see the partner’s behavior for what it is. The song is musically rich, with an acoustic and electric guitar soundscape, synthesizers, bass guitar, drums, and additional instrumentation.

The surrounding songs view the same emotional landscape from different angles. “Cowboy Wannabe” explores a partner masking insecurity with a detached personality, and “Deja Vu” captures the frustration of arguments that go round and round without changing anything. “Adore” is about ignoring red flags when you’re that into something, and “Cherry” is about the temporary comfort of being in a relationship that just isn’t right.

The album opens up by looking at borders and the need for real connection. “Make Me Feel” is about wanting to be loved, and “Until” is about how long you should stay in the twilight zone. “Still Stuck Waiting” captures the frustration of waiting for communication and commitment. “Don’t You Leave” begins with fear of abandonment and moves toward healing, while “What Else” ends the record with emotional exhaustion and a desire to move on.

Rather than treating every experience as a one-off event, the tracklist of “Unblurred” attempts to create a single image of relationship troubles. With this release, Brynja Rán explores unhealthy patterns, boundaries, and getting the clarity to choose a different path.

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Album Review

Legends of the Seven Golden Vampires explore healing and personal growth on “The Pumphouse of Broken Dreams” [album]

Albums often have a strong sense of identity, with songs linking to a broader emotional and musical direction. The nine-song album “The Pumphouse of Broken Dreams” by Legends of the Seven Golden Vampires, featuring Dutch vocalist Ilse Van Der Linden front and center, is more cohesive.

The band’s melodic psychedelic pop offers a welcome counterpoint to a project that explores recovery, longing, uncertainty, and personal growth. The tracklist is an emotional journey. “To Think, To Heal” starts with the idea of mental healing and moving on from the past. “Flying” is more of an escapist wish to escape the pressures of day-to-day life. “Come Home” is about finding comfort and belonging.

“Here I Am” is about self-awareness and openness. Together, these early songs form an album about finding stability and processing difficult experiences. The middle ground is more emotionally layered. “Hopelessly Devoted To You” is about being attached all the time, and “Lost & Burned” is about being worn out and the results of hard experiences. Then there is “In My Dreams,” which turns into memory and unfulfilled wishes. Later, “AIR” brings the need for freedom, air, space, and a new start.

It ends with “BLEND,” a combination of psychedelic, shoegaze, and electronic influences. The release also includes another visual element from Gareth Halliday, who also worked on Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Who Built The Moon. “The Pumphouse of Broken Dreams” has softer vocals and a range of emotions. This album is deliberately constructed, moving from reflection to acceptance without losing the variety of experiences it tackles.

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