Shai Hulud is probably one of the most influential metalcore bands around and while contemporaries such as Poison The Well and Cave In have either changed their style or called it a day, Shai Hulud simply keeps plowing on, doing what they do best. Sure, we had to wait for five years for the follow-up to “That Within Blood Ill-Tempered” but listening to their excellent brand of melodic and highly technical metalcore, I’d say it was well worth the wait.
From the sound of it you’d say these guys have been together forever but Shai Hulud has been known for its line-up changes alsmost as much as for their music. And that’s no different this time around with the departure of vocalist Geert Van Der Velde. His replacement – Matt Mazzali - however makes Shai Hulud sound even more like the band they used to be when Chad Gilbert was still among its ranks. And it’s good to hear these guys still know how to inject a song with some killer riffage (“Venomspreader”) or weave melody together with intense and discordant parts with one well-placed breakdown. Absolute highlight of the album? The 3-part closer “Cold Lord Quietus”, which is one of the most impressive things Shai Hulud has ever recorded. Good to have you back again!
Score: 9 out of 10
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http://www.hulud.com
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