In this intense world, we now live in where man and machine are slowly morphing into one, we still have the creative spirits of individuals working together in a band to express their emotions. We proceed on a journey with Shatterface, encountering many levels of rage driven by a “wild burst of pure energy” to lift your emotions into the air for 14 minutes and 44 sec.
Their latest EP to be released, “Deviate” is a project of passion empowered by their creative spirit and dynamite lit up your ass. Consisting of 4 songs, we have a suitable follow-on from their previous album, “Anodize” as it carries on what you expect from the band, but has its own unique qualities to it.
There is a fury and intensity through the album that Tim Goss the guitarist helps to canvas with the intense triplets he puts in, bends and string scrapes. His solos are manifestations of lightning as it strikes with electrical ferocity. Despite being a one-guitar show, the band produces of a full-bodied sound through it, perhaps with some layered guitars and by adding extra layers of synth sounds to roll it all up. The drums wreak havoc with the intensity to give it the necessary juice to keep the album alive.
The album cover speaks to us of futuristic ideas, escapism and a world that would be great not to be in, unless you are twistedly into desolation and destruction. The scene is hospitable to feelings of despair and loss, but the circular structure gives you a sense of hope. It looks to be the the thing that helps us escape to a parallel universe or cart us back in time to correct a world-changing event. Who knows. Perhaps the band have just embraced AI and asked it to whip up something to generate discussion. Considering then band produced this album by correspondence, this highlights how much we can actually get done using technology if we use it the right way.
Robert King’s lyrics centre around dark concepts, painting a grim picture of desolation, death and a world of being dominated. Lyrics like “We will dominate, cleanse these sands, We will dominate, purges these lands” it highlights the theme well. Whatever we do though, we do it with honour so that we “can ride to Valhalla on a mechanised steed”. His words are sung with heart and intensity and the occasional little electronic tweak with it adds extra elements to be heard within an album. “Depreciate” will be a good to song through as it highlights that electronic connection with the intro starting us up like a crypto mining station ready to serve to what the song has to offer. While this is a good album, at times though, it feels as though there is a balance between the structure of the songs and all the extra that could elevate it further.
This is an album that drops you right into an intense fire that will burn you right through. If you go see them live, you’ll be right in at front, singing along to the intense lyrics and dancing like you were on fire! I’m sure they will bring an intensity to the show that you will want to experience first-hand.
- Amplify
- Depreciate
- Aftermath
- Dominate
Shatterface: Facebook
Release Year: 2025
Label: self-released
Category: Album
Country: Australia
Reviewed by Byron Lotz
