By Matt Haynes
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SHADOW FEN (L-R): Kappa the Arcane, The One Who Fell, Hadron, Thorin Stormbeard, The Forgemaster
Sword sharpened? Check. Several potions brewed and bottled? Checked. Variety of mead ready to be consumed once the quest has successfully been completed?...ah bugger...might need to pop to Tesco for a top up. I'm sure they take rupees and the treasures of the forbidden kingdom as payment right?
Don't worry, I haven't lost the plot (debatable) yet, I'm merely getting into the right mindset for the next review over here at Get Heavy - one that sees us travelling to the familiar realms of fantasy and power metal (whilst being conveniently located on my doorstep! My horse will be happy with that). This next band has definitely been busy over the year, storming the stages of venues up and down, uniting warriors of metal and drinking in their quest. All whilst building up their own catalogue of stories and legends for fans to enjoy. Today, we catch up with Power Metal qunitet Shadow Fen, who have released their 'biographical' track 'The Battle of Shadow Fen'.
Fully embracing the Power Metal element, this is a track that is full of character and might both visually and musically. 'The Battle of Shadow Fen' genuinely feels like the bastard lovechild of Powerwolf and Sonata Arctica, blending powerful orchestral elements with intense metal and lyrics full of soul and oomph. Whilst the track is the third single to be released from the band, it hits you with much more depth and lore than their previous tracks (for reference - 'Vanguard' and 'Victory Brew', both of which can be found in the links at the bottom of this article), and is a masterfully crafted track to bring you into the world of the Shadow Fen guild.
The overall production compliments each member's abilities without making any element sound muddy or overproduced. The guitars come through clean, the bass powerful and rhythmic, the drums crisp and thunderous and finally the vocals, clear and full of life. The balance means you can appreciate each section of the track to its finer points, whilst still enjoying the unity of the band and their mastery. Accompanied by a music video that itself is full of character and feels like you're watching a fantasy series on Netflix (*cough cough to any Netflix execs looking for a new show idea, I take 15% commission as a starting rate...), 'The Battle of Shadow Fen' is a very strong addition to a band that are constantly finding ways to push themselves without risking quality or professionalism.
Its no surprise to see why Shadow Fen are quickly becoming a popular act within the underground scene and rallying fans under their belt. This is a band that are able to balance the professionalism with the joy, the seriousness of their product with the fun of doing something different (as evident by the smiles on their faces when seeing them perform live). Whilst 'The Battle of Shadow Fen' merely scratches at the surface of the band's lore, its a powerful and epic chapter in their ongoing journey...leaving one to wonder just how much drinking are we going to do over this journey?
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