It’s common to call Modern Traditional Heavy Metal that way of playing Heavy Metal with an aggressive and actual outfit, as was done by METAL CHURCH on “Metal Church” and “The Dark”, and JUDAS PRIEST on “Defenders of the Faith” and (especially) “Painkiller”. Sometimes it can break the frontiers between Heavy Metal and Thrash Metal as well (in the early days, METALLICA used NWOBHM with a new outfit that caused confusion between the fans back then), and cause more confusion. And “As Above, So Below”, the first full-length of the North American quintet SHADOW OF THE TALYSMAN will make things even harder in this sense.

In the rigid sense, they’re a Thrash Metal act that uses a lot of melodic influences under an aggressive outfit, using even elements of Groove Thrash Metal (as heard on moments of “What Is Real?”). It’s not an usual formula for in the straight sense of modern Traditional Heavy Metal or into Thrash Metal, but it works in a very good way, filled with screamed vocals, nasty and strong guitars, and a massive and heavy work on bass guitar and drums. It’s all a fan of Metal wants, and it’s good. The album was recorded at Raydon Studio in Keego Harbor, MI, having Mark Stewart as co-producer and mix engineer. The final result is something harsh and distorted as Thrash Metal releases are usually presents, but not in a so rigid sense, because melodies can be heard as well, and all is understood. And what a beautiful artwork of Mark Erskine at Erskine Designs for the cover.

“As Above, So Below” is a conceptual album that deals with the story of a character (names The Outlaw) who did a deal with the devil, comes to annihilate the world, then return to Hell and kill the devil himself. It’s obvious that a message is there for everyone to discover, and it’s very good to taste songs as “Arise”, “What Is Real?”, “Fiery Descent”, “Dead with the Devil”, “The Outlaw”, “Cursed”, “As Above”, and “So Below”. Ok, the band has too much potential to be turned into music in the future, but by now, they’re truly very good. Taste “As Above, So Below” and check what is offered by SHADOW OF THE TALYSMAN.