In reviewing a new band that I know about as much as I know about calculus, I am forced to go to the record company website and my dear old friend Google search, and here's what they have to say about PROTEAN SHIELD, a self-described "epic metal" band from Athens, Greece, started their journey somewhere around the summer of 2019, that have released their self-titled debut album on June 23, 2023. They deliver sound combining a wide variety of different musical influences. From the riffing extravaganza of technical US Power Metal bands like, CRESCENT SHIELD and PHARAOH, to the epic convolution of SLOUGH FEG, and from there to the ecstatic, moments of agony that can be found on bands like VISIGOTH, SOLSTICE, BLIND GUARDIAN and WRATHBLADE. With story telling lyrics that aim to the mindset of composition and song structure with a narrative blend leading the listener to adventurous and poetic sieges, raids full of revenge, heroic battles and far off travels, but also dark and romantic, bringing to life tales of despair, longing and eternal love. Back to my words: Sounds like we're heading into an eerie and sinister region, that will test my listening and comprehending skills, but hopefully no calculus.

We open with a  galloping, marching tempo as the low-keyed, deepened vocals take over immediately brining Glenn Danzig to mind, with a simple, innocuous guitar riff chime in, gotta admit I am a little surprised with how they started off this album, I was expecting a power metal sound or at least something "epic" from the pre-game hype, but let's carry on. A theatrical element on "Stormbringer" with a cacophony mix brought together by an avalanche of beefy riffs and leads, the bass lines are dominant and lively, but the vocals remain mundane and lifeless. "Mariner's Dream" feels like an Irish folk song over prominent and enthusiastic  drumming with nice appealing guitar work but comes across as a poor man's THIN LIZZY. Still waiting for that song to get my dander up or hear something "epic". I won't go as far to use "epic" on "Sin and Dream"  but it has that certain something with a catchy chorus and riffs, backed by steady and fun filled backbeat, the vocals actually come alive and give a clean, effervescent touch, obviously my favorite song to date.

I guess you could say it's my fault for getting ahead of myself and setting the bar too high for PROTEAN SHIELD, lyrically they are as advertised, top notch story tellers that challenge the mind, but I'm sure you've figured it out by now, they fall short musically. They were just lackluster and unimaginative. Yes, there were some moments that had me toe tapping and drumming with my pencil but unfortunately far and few between. Oh yeah, the album cover artwork was cool.