Shadowsphere’s latest album, INFERNO, released through the band’s own independent label Sphere Music Media, reflects well Shadowsphere’s musical growth and evolution over the course of their career so far.

It's an album that is certain to open the door to a whole new generation of Shadowsphere fans and still appeal to veteran fans as well. It's also a must-have in the catalogue of every metal musician, whether veteran or newcomer. 

 With their INFERNO, Shadowsphere continues their path into melodic death metal. An absolute standard of heavy, fast thrash, INFERNO is brutal in its delivery, yet it never collapses. The music remains clean, tight and melodic throughout the injection of a heavier and more atmospheric element into their sound. To help this, the band could count with the collaboration from two guests: the wonderful and unique voice of Patrícia Rodrigues (ThanatoSchizO), who shines in the mammoth epic “Alone At The End Of The World” and on the thrilling first single of the album “Sworn Enemy”; and the astonishing keyboard parts of Davon Von Dave (former member) that contributes with the sidereal instrumental “The Hurtlocker” as well as with all the keyboard amazing work on “Alone At The End Of The World”. One of the most evident achievements of INFERNO is that Shadowsphere hasn't tried to reinvent the wheel. Rather, the band has gone back to its roots, creating an album that is amazing in its power and aggression, harkening back to the music that left an indelible mark on the genre and the world of music as a whole. The album is fierce in its pile-driving aggression, addictive and dynamic, explosive and complex as the likes of In Flames, As I Lay Dying, Machine Head or Testament.

Luis Goulão reveals the meaning behind INFERNO, which deals with all kinds of personal Infernos and destruction of life. “When you think about it, it is a ‘hot’ subject to write about and to deal with! Back in 2007, the world as I knew disappeared and my personal life collapsed, so it triggered my will to write about it”, says Luis. “I had to go to hell and back. It creeps and revolts me to think about it and I’m a better writer when I’m angry!”

And this anger is easily reflected on the music and lyrics as well as the power of “doing it yourself”, of strength, character and self-consciousness. INFERNO breathes all kinds of feelings and makes you think about them. 

On one hand, Emídio Ramos’s drums are really heavy and he delivers hell through blast-beats, fast section parts and breakdown demolition. On the other hand, João Sousa’s bass grants the music a killer rhythmic section, while Paulo Gonçalves’s voice screams as it was his last day on earth, and all this really enhances the melodic and destructive guitars of Luis Miguel Goulão & Ricardo Trincheiras, whose leads and solos give life to the real meaning of INFERNO.

The songs are intense and strong, reaching a new level of composition, which creates a variation of sounds and moods, sometimes hellish, sometimes mysterious and yet atmospheric. The music covers a wide range between melodic death metal to thrash metal whilst incorporating atmospheric elements and sci-fi cinema moods. 

 

This time, the band chose Poison Apple Studios to record INFERNO with Tiago Canadas as the producer. For the mastering, Shadowsphere chose Adam D.´s Zing Studios (U.S.A.) and its co-mastermind Jim Fogarty, who has worked with names like Shadows Fall, Devil Wears Prada, Killswitch Engage and the list goes on. 

All in all, Shadowsphere remains a heavy metal band but of another kind...