Alternative metal band Defences released their latest album Shadowlight earlier this month.
It’s safe to say it’s an absolute cracker.
The synth and keys intro to opener The Curse is pretty haunting, particularly with the odd distorted vocal over the top. As the vocals start to kick in, there’s a serious RNB sound to them and it’s fabulous. The mixture of swag-filled clean vocals and deep growls work really well. It’s catchy too and a very good start to the album.
My favourite track on the album comes very early on in Gold in the Dark. I love the breakdown and at times slightly distorted vocals, I think these work together well. It’s also got really relatable lyrics and a great drum beat.
Perish turns it up a notch with a more aggressive metal sound. It has a dirty bass line which I love and the screams too.
Inspirit slows things right down with high, soft vocals and a more keys focused instrumentation. It acts as a bit of a break before The Almost kicks in with a bit of a thumping bass and brings the upbeat sound back.
Defences have a fantastic third album in Shadowlight. It’s atmospheric and interesting. Each track is varied but keeps a solid sound that embodies Defences. The way Cherry and William’s vocals work together is fantastic.
I absolutely love the way keys are used throughout to add atmosphere and are perfectly mixed into the sound. The mix of soaring vocals, intense instrumentation and haunting keys/synths come together brilliantly throughout the album. A perfect example of this is in Silence & The Sound which is one of the standout songs.
The feeling I get when listening to Shadowlight is akin to when I first fell in love with Bad Omens and I think any Bad Omens fan would be in love with Defences too.