Extreme Metal Maniac Blog : SHIELD OF WINGS

Friday, February 4, 2022

SHIELD OF WINGS - Unfinished review

SHIELD OF WINGS - Unfinished

Elderpath Records

Imagine, if you will, a female fronted symphonic metal act who's sound falls inbetween NIGHTWISH and EPICA. Oh yeah and they're not from Europe but instead hail from Chicago, Illinois. Ah yeah we don't get so lucky with something that cool here in the states. But yes SHIELD OF WINGS are a bonafide contender to all of what we love as far as this genre goes.

Some PR people I work with like to ask why it takes me so long to write about the releases they send me. Ah well since I'm a person who wakes up every morning full of hate then listening to something like this is a pleasant awakening which I've spent days listening to. Unfinished is the debut album by this five piece act. I can say they've found a happy niche in my mean spirit filled existence.

Music-wise the band are full on symphonic metal genre style. We're talking keyboard friendly melodies with plenty of power-chord riffs. The basics are there with accents. First off Lara Mordian is an amazing vocalist. She can do the clean singing parts then add the operatic vocal highs while also kicking in folk styled singing as well as some death metal vocals. Their keyboardist also contributes backing vocals which are a total compliment.

There's ten cuts on here and all of them are of the four minute plus range. I like how their songs are concise with no symphonic filler areas like overtly long intros. The melodies soar and the keys set up a huge backdrop at times. If the opener "Crushing Hail" doesn't win you over with all of what I've described then I'd suggest cuts like "Wetland" or "Mind of Myth". But honestly every cut on here is a winner.

All in all SHIELD OF WINGS are Americans who sound like European Symphonic Metal. If they toured Europe this Summer they'd blow audiences's minds and win over their hearts. Oh yeah and it's a damm shame this band is not on a label.