{"id":97507,"date":"2024-11-08T09:15:17","date_gmt":"2024-11-08T09:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/?p=97507"},"modified":"2024-11-08T00:13:13","modified_gmt":"2024-11-08T00:13:13","slug":"review-defences-shadowlight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/review-defences-shadowlight\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Defences – Shadowlight"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"On past evidence, Hertfordshire-based outfit\u00a0Defences<\/strong> have been touted as promising up-and-comers in the pool of UK alt-metal\/metalcore upstarts. Much like 2021’s\u00a0‘In The Balance’<\/em>, album number three,\u00a0‘Shadowlight’<\/em>, sees the quintet comfortably bed themselves into metalcore tropes with admirable results.<\/p>\n

Songs such as\u00a0‘Perish’<\/em> and\u00a0‘Gold In The Dark’\u00a0<\/em>have that familiar cinematic production shine and are backed by muscular riffs from Calum Wilmot. While Owen Hughes-Holland (bass) and Kyle Parke (drums) add to the hefty weight as vocalist Cherry Duesbury and keyboardist William Young elevate songs like\u00a0‘Perish’<\/em>. Their duel vocal work is considerably Defences<\/strong>‘ strongest characteristic.\u00a0 On the latter, and on ‘Silence & The Sound’<\/em> they’re able to build an atmosphere of trepidation, through the pair’s impressive clean vocals. The atmosphere and tension are cohesive and allow them to stir up a claustrophobic tone.<\/p>\n

As the record moves forward,\u00a0‘Breathe It In’<\/em> thrives on gigantic percussion and crushing guitars before ‘Inspirit’\u00a0<\/em>gently slows things down. Riding on a fragile wave and a simple tempo, it highlights\u00a0Defences<\/strong>‘ growing versatility. Where in the past they may have rushed through, throwing anything that sticks, here they’re able to utilise their strengths poignantly.<\/p>\n