DITHERAMB (In My Shadow)

Reviewed by Tim EP on (Friday, August 18, 2006) Rated 8.8 / 10
Category Rating
Track Structure 9
Interest 8
Melody 8
Performance 9
Lyrics 9
Enjoyment 8
Recording Quality 10
Commercial Appeal 9
Overall 8.8

Okey dokey, lets get started.....

My first admission is that I know about as much about metal as I do about 3rd Century Mongolia.......in other words, not alot!  So when Steve from Ditheramb replied to my offer of a review I was, well, wary.....  but this is a really class track.

Track Structure  (9/10)
I'm the first to admit I dont know what the perfect Metal 'Track Structure' is. We start off very cool and mellow. Kind of lures you into a false sense of security before Pow!  The heavy guitars kick in with a solid drum backing.  My heads already nodding along it before the vocals kick. Nodding along we next hit the melodic breakdown (dunno if thats the correct Metal term lol).  This is my favourite part of the track, and really makes the track stand out as excellent.  Then back to the heavy stuff again.  As we enter the next 'breakdown', I come to a realisation. Metal is similar to Trance....serious (have I now lost all credability?!!)  Gentle intro, then a bit of the heavy heavy, before a nice breakdown, then back to the heavy heavy, then nice an light for a bit before exit stage right (umm....outro then finish)....

Hmmmm...maybe I know more about metal than I though lol!

I think the track is wonderfully layered.  The whole track is very 'full'.  Us Dance producers can sometimes use 30 or 40 channels trying to fill out the mix.  You guys do it with a few instuments and a singer....but then again, I suppose you're 'Proper Musicians'!!!!!

Anywho... 9/10

Musical Interest 8/10
Well, can I say.  It's not something I would usually listen too, but it really is such a refreshing change to venture into genres I wouldn't normally dare to.

My brother is really into his Metal and Rock, and he came in saying 'who's dis den' (25 and still he can't string a proper sentence together lol)......he was loving it, insisted I started it again!  So I'll give it an extra point for that!

8/10

Melody 8/10
I must admit again my Metal ignorance.  I would never have thought Metal to be too melodic (what my brother listens to is people screaming into a microphone). Again, Ditheramb suprise me.  A really nice melody to this, especially in the Breakdowns and intro.  Not something that would stay in your head for days  after hearing though, I wouldnt have thought.  Since thats the benchmark I have previously reviewed to, I'll use it again....hence the score...

8/10

Recording Quality 10/10
If I'd heard this on the radio rather than an unsigned website, I'd have thought this track was professionally done.  So far as I can tell, I'd say it was spot on!

10/10

Lyrics
Again, not something I know a huge amount about.  But I think they're excellent.   Seemingly very well thought out and sung with real power and conviction.  I wouldnt say again though that they would really stick in my head though, so I've dropped a point.
9/10

Enjoyment
Really pleasantly suprised.  I was worried I wouldn't like it, and have to write a more negative review. But no, I really liked it.  I've been listening to it over and over while writing this review and I'm not getting bored of it!  I think thats a really good sign!

8/10

Commercial Appeal 9/10
Another tricky one for me, because if Im honest I wouldnt buy it. But I can think of plenty of people who would....my brother being one of them!  The whole thing is very polished and hard to knock in anyway really.


So, phew!

That was my 'throw you in at the deep-end' educational tour of Metal :)

I did really enjoy this track and would recommend for you all to have a listen, even if, like me, you tend to shy away for the genre.  I think Ditheramb have the serious potential to be a big name not just within MP3unsigned but generally.  Keep up the good work lads!



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