Grim atmosphere, beautiful soaring female vocals and entwined Symphonic Black Metal and Melodic Death Metal elements; such is the sound of DARK MAN SHADOW, a German band (currently trio) that has been around for quite a while yet it seems like it's somewhat unheard-of and underground. "Victims of Negligence" comes after 10 years to follow up their last release, making it their 3rd full-length album. It's set to be released this November 15th.

The perfect blend of female vocals within such a genre of Metal doesn't seem so easy to achieve for everyone. However, DARK MAN SHADOW managed to do this in the best way possible. Samotha's singing ranges from softened clean vocals to the pseudo-operatic chanting, showcasing a decent amount of talent and versatility and contrasting Sorroth's harsh vocals. Their mixture only contributes to the gloominess of the atmosphere within the album.

Songwriting-wise, the album is not short of enjoyable haunting moments and alluring melodies. It's actually devoid of any useless cacophony that shouldn't be there. With a not-so-polished production, the album sounds quite rough and raw that actually fits the style of the band, because an over-produced sound wouldn't do.

Overall, I think it's a must check for those seeking a nice combination of Symphonic Black Metal with a dark female voice. DARK MAN SHADOW are good at what they do.