Ov Shadows is a Black Metal band from Gothenberg, Sweden. Rising from the ashes of \"Waning\", a band that all four members previously played in, Ov Shadows introduced their sound with the 2016 self-released EP \"Monologues\" before releasing its first full-length album \"The Darkness Between Stars\" in 2018.
This summer, Ov Shadows returns with their second full-length and first release on Hypnotic Dirge Records. Entitled \"I Djävulens Avbild\" (In the Devil's Image), the new record presents Ov Shadows at an unprecedented ferocity and forward-momentum, and apparently very intent on proving that to their listeners immediately, as pummeling drums and a heavy galloping riff fill the speakers within seconds of the opening track \"Den Eld Som Tär Och Förvrider.\"
Throughout \"I Djävulens Avbild, the pace hardly ever lets up, instead taking you on an all-out sensory assault. The combination of infectious riffs, recurring hooks, blastbeats, and tortured vocals create an enveloping claustrophobic and dark dissonance, as if a shroud has covered your face and defined forms have turned to shadows. Despite its unrelenting nature, the details really shine through on \"I Djävulens Avbild\" thanks to its clear production, precise musicianship, and deliberate flow. The few times where the record does slow down become quite memorable due to the contrast. The use of powerful percussion and austere bass create a trance-inducing atmosphere while discordant tremolo-picked melodies soar overhead creating a wonderful juxtaposition that crescendos into catharsis.
\"Ov shadows is about exploring and embracing the dark aspects that dwell within us all – your ‘shadows-self’ as Carl Jung expressed it. Our vision is to create an atmospheric Black Metal guided by chaos and darkness.\"
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Reviews:
\"Where the album really excels is in creating a a dreadful atmosphere. RA (bassist and singer) delivers his growls and shrieks with the kind of skill that you’d expect from the likes of Gaahl or Erik Danielsson. Combined with the dissonant melodies and the furious drumming, it’s really the stuff of nightmares.\"
-Metal Blast
\"No matter how many times you listen to his record, each time you hear it something new triggers your curiosity. A song like 'Blasfemiskt Crescendo' is an instant classic with its tremolo melodies and super-fast drums, but I underestimated a song like 'Under Dödens Vingar', which is a slower-paced song that eventually became so beautiful and cinematic.
-My Music Path
\"Ov Shadows show themselves to be masters of the craft. The album is an exceptionally intense listen, certainly in the running for the best and most visceral release in this style this year.\"
-Moshpit Nation
\"Ov Shadows take no prisoners on this 43 minutes onslaught of furious and enshrouding black metal. Their approach to songwriting perfectly balances out melody and atmosphere, resulting in a sound that is both extremely dark and epic. There is a strong progressive and forward-thinking element to their monumental compositions that made me think of bands such as Enslaved. Together with the melodic riffery in the vein of Dark Funeral and Immortal and the pervasive dark atmosphere, I Djävulens Avbild is a dynamic and well-composed mixture of all the things that make black metal such a powerful style of music.\"
