| Musical Style: Metal/Hard Rock | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Independent | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2020 | Artist Website: Lordchain |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 41:09 |
To say that Caruthersville, Missouri based Lordchain are veterans of the independent hard music scene would be an understatement. The group traces all the way back to 1990 when it was founded by guitarist Jeff Grady and drummer, bassist and lead vocalist Kelly Matthews initially under the name Eternity. Fast forward 30 years and having experienced change in the form of the switch to the Lordchain moniker (in 1996) and an ever revolving lineup but maintaining Grady and Matthews as its core members, the group released in January of 2020 its eighth full length album The Shadow Project. Lordchain previously put out in 2019 its seventh full length Civil War, which followed on the heels of it going on extended hiatus after a particularly busy period to see it record five albums between 2002 and 2010.
In past reviews, I describe Lordchain as straightforward hard rock and metal with occasional groove and modern overtones. I hate to come across predictable (or as if on reviewer auto pilot) but the same holds true as it pertains to The Shadow Project: a basis of hard rock guitar riffs strongly leaning towards a metal basis but manifesting a bass heavy sense of groove and periodic modern guitar facets. It works in light of Lordchain’s continued penchant for melodic based songwriting rooted in catchy hooks while further expanding upon the heavier sentiments it started on Civil War but - as implied by The Shadow Project title - within a darker and more somber musical framework.
Nothing better exemplifies this than opening cut “No Excuses”, layered with walls of herculean rhythm guitars but groove laden in terms of a thick as it gets low end to come across abrading in form. Catchy hooks, nonetheless, remain a Lordcahin focal point despite the furrowing scene. A mid-point instrumental break sees guest guitarists Greg Minier (The Crucified) and Mike Phillips (Deliverance, The Sacrificed) cutting loose.
“Last Breath” represents a three-minute mauler. With distorted bass to start, it trudges its distance sluggish and crawling in reflecting upon the down tuned to tons of walloping mid-paced momentum and the no-nonsense bearing to match. Matthews does a good job building upon the churlish vibe with his gravelly, middle register vocal qualities. Lordchain continues to make a faith-based statement lyrically:
God, are you there?
I’m at the end of my despair
Save me, save me
I’m so deserving of death
But still You gave up Your life
I’m so deserving of death
My savior, redeemer
Bring me to life
Christ has set me free
“As Far As The Eye Can See” is in similar vein with its hulking mid-paced resonance. Crisply woven drums trade off with bounding guitars throughout, as subtly done hooks prevent the song from straying into repetitious territory, and a darker impression mirrors The Shadow Project title. Grady’s soloing draws upon the blues.
“Blow The Past Away” brings to mind Bride, the least of not which being how melody hints of classic track “Blow It All Away (off This is It from 2003), while riffs hint of a similar from as “Would You Die For Me” (Snakes In The Playground from 1992). It otherwise manifests a deep bass heavy sense of groove and the bluesy shuffling rhythm guitar presence to match. Lyric snippet:
Blow the past away
Erase these yesterdays
Blow the past away
Nothing left to say
Staring out of vacant eyes
I’ll bring you to your knees
On the inside you die
And no one hears you scream
Aptly entitled “Time Bomb” separates as another mid-tempo chiller. It proves curt, ominous and nothing less than churlish, overpowering its distance to trampling rhythm guitars (with a resounding metal bent) and just enough hooks to garner your attention in skirting the overridingly trite. Lead guitar maintains its bluesy flair.
After several cuts on the mid-tempo side, “Just Like Home” brings an upbeat change of pace. The song presents with some cool eighties metal guitar riffs (for the smoothly flowing verse sections) and aligns them with refined doses of layered vocal melodies (noting the engaging refrain). Without backing from the albums intrinsic heaviness, “Just Like Home” separates with its lightly done commercials elements. Lyric snippet:
How many times have I stumbled
And you’d catch my fall
How many times have I ran away
Then back to your arms
Chorus
I’m holding out my heart again
Longing to be healed
I’m running to my father
And it feels just like home
“Redeeming The Time” is albums lone ballad- and a quality one at that. Reticent is the impression at hand - at least in light of the angst to the material preceding it - as lightly done guitars and Matthews’ smoother side to his vocal delivery lead the reflective way. Gist is one of the albums stronger melodies (again, commercial in aspect) and a stretch of its most emotionally played lead guitar.
“Songs In The Night” cuts in at once to guitars that maul in and out of the mix as a return to a heavier rocking form. The Lordchain rhythm section particularly stands out on this one - with melodic bass and drum rolls aplenty - as does quite the determined refrain to manifest a tenacious affinity. It represents a quintessential deep cut with its focus on the darker and heavier rocking. Lyric snippet”
How many times
You’ve rescued me
From my own self
I fall on my knees
I now offer up my life
I am renewed
I’ll sing praises in the night to You
Called from shadows into light
The chosen few
I’ll sing praises all my life to You
“Shine On” touches upon the melodic essence to “Redeeming The Time”. With a crunch heavy mentality from the start, as brazen guitars dive in and out of the mix, the song also embodies catchy hooks in abundance in also drawing upon an accessible form. If given opportunity I can see it shining (no pun intended) on FM radio.
Lone song in which I struggle ensues in “Say Goodbye”. No, far from bad but also coming across a bit plan, it drifts between moments both calm and heavy as an emotionally hard rocker in lacking some of the memorable luster to the albums better material (at least to these ears). I tend to pass, although I can see others embracing the song. Lyric snippet:
For those who are grieving
For a loss in your life
Lift up your weary hearts
God can dry your eyes, yeah
I hate to say goodbye
When the end’s before my eyes
When my time arrives
And I lay down this life
I’ll have to say goodbye
“Human Being” closes The Shadow Project strongly. It stays true to the signature Lordchain sound with its impenetrable heavy hitting allure, hard charging in reference to its convincing riff mentality but equally catchy in light of the engaging hooks to funnel its distance. A mid-point acoustic passage plays a soothing role.
It is encouraging to see Lordchain return to its previous productive ways when factoring how The Shadow Project represents the second full length project from the group in as many years, and all the more so in light of the three worship EP’s it has released starting in 2018. I also appreciate how the group has gradually upped its heaviness starting with Civil War, while The Shadow Project further lends to a darker heading. Likewise, holdovers Kelly Matthews and Jeff Grady maintain high levels of performance, while Lordchain sustains its trademark high quality in the areas of production and cover art. If also does not hurt that The Shadow Project features some REAL good songs! If into Lordchain or the styles presented then make The Shadow Project a necessary purchase, if not familiar with the group then it along with Civil War is a good place to start.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “No Excuses” (3:35), “Last Breath” (3:05), “As Far As The Eyes Can See” (3:11), “Blow The Past Away” (3:52), “Time Bomb” (4:17), “Just Like Home” (3:24), “Songs In The Night” (4:26), “Redeeming The Time” (3:31), “Shine On Me” (3:18), “Say Goodbye” (3:51), “Human Being” (4:21), “Dying Battery” (:17)
Musicians
Kelly Matthews - Lead Vocals, Drums & Bass Guitar
Jeff Grady - Rhythm & Lead Guitar
Matt Jones - Piano & Keys
Additional Musicians
Greg Minier & Mike Phillips - Lead Guitar
