Album Review: Illumishade - Another Side Of You

There are only so many bands that come along as you get older that give you the feeling they could be something a cut above what else is out there in the scene. I had that feeling with Illumishade, as the first batch of music they put out was a fascinating blend of modern metal, hints of folk, and haunting vocals. They were already laser-focused on songwriting, and there was something special about some of the songs on their debut record. Unfortunately, that was marred a bit by the fact the album was incredibly short, and padded out with a few segues and interludes. It felt like it should have been a killer EP, rather than a diluted album, which gave me a bit of pause in coronating them as the next big thing in melodic metal.

This sophomore effort delivers even more of what makes Illumishade so great. The first full song "Elegy" sets the stage with the heavy rhythmic guitars giving way to Fabienne's siren voice, building to a soaring chorus that sounds rather joyous. They throw a spanner in the works as the second half of the song slows to a sludgy crawl, only to rise once again in the beautiful hook. Putting that right at the start of the album shows confidence, and tells us the band is not afraid to try a few new things along the way.

That is certainly true on "Enemy", where the guitars leading into the chorus fall into a glitchy tone that sounds out of rhythm with the rest of the band, the sort of thing that is probably progressive when broken down with time signature math and whatnot, but sounds like momentum running into quicksand to my ears. The song recovers, but the stumble does keep it from reaching top speed.

It can be hard to weave a melody atop a mathematical musical bed, and there are a few occasions when Fabienne and the music don't meld together into perfect harmony. Or perhaps they're trying too hard for that effect, because the feeling I get listening to the record is also one that the band is holding back, and I'm not entirely sure what. Something about these songs just doesn't have the same sensation of getting swept up in their melodic sound that their debut record did. I can still listen to "Rise" and feel a tingle when Fabienne breaks into that chorus.

That's what I wanted to hear more of, and I'm still wanting. These are good songs, and it's a good record, but there's a 'spark' I'm missing out on. It could be as simple as the band's own stated intention of being a bit more 'modern' than before. I'm not known for being interested or invested in rhythmic assaults, so there is less beauty in the music to compliment Fabienne. What worked so well before was the sweeping atmosphere that buoyed her lilting vocals. She's doing all the heavy lifting this time, and the breeze is too much background noise.

So what I can say about Illumishade is that they are still an immensely talented band, and they haven't lost their way. They have merely taken a road with scenery I'm not as interested in seeing. "Another Side Of You" is another side of them, and while it's nice to hear them spreading their wings, some of us will always like the first impression the best. I have to be honest and say that's what is happening here. I like this record, but I loved the songs on their debut. The difference is degrees, but it only takes the right one to change phase.