We yet again find ourselves in the heart of Malaysia where you can wander the vibrant streets of the region's capital Kuala Lumpur. Known usually for the rich cultural diversity, festivals and great food. But under all the unique architecturally designed towers that stretch into the sky, offering breathtaking views, deep within the shadows formed an underground scene. Within KL comes a group that fuses together the elements of melodic death and metalcore that is tinged in power metal. There are a lot of newer bands that are taking to the modern scene of metal and hitting the stage hard, but this group is carving their path with an emotional display as they weave musical dynamics in a fashion to forge a lasting impression. SHAMASH took off in the year of the great pandemic pack in 2020 where they released  their first single in September of that same year “Suffering Servant” under Rottweiler Records. Well, fast forward to today, the band has released multiple singles, an EP under that same record label and now their debut full-length album “Done With Misery”. Released on June 14, 2024, this album promises a dynamic display of emotionally charged melodic death metal infused metalcore that is tinged in powermetal undertones for ten solid tracks and will leave you captivated for 40:28 minutes. So let's get into it. 

The artwork is another AI looking piece which isn't too impressive for me. A bit disappointing to be honest, but that's my take on it. It shows an open field stretching into a wooded background with a clouded sky. Crows can be seen in a murder off in the distant sky while two sit parched near the foreground. One on a scarecrow, the other on a nearby dead looking tree. A man in a plaid coat with a hood up standing in the fog looking outwards. It does give a moody feel of sorrow, so there’s that and the overall colors of a washed or saturated cyan add to this. I mean using AI elements to enhance art is a decent way to go or even digital artwork but full AI is pretty obvious for me. You do what you can I suppose and for that I cannot judge too harshly. “Not My Heart” has an awesome start and just hits hard right off the top. Unique distortion that fades into a heavy stumed chord that reverberates out over some solid drum rolls. Some solid slam riffs pick up as the visceral vocals aggressively take off. That thick chord progression coated in distortion as the ratched vocals lead into some well placed clean vocals. A form of progressive metalcore can be heard that synergises with the slam death elements nicely. The overall dynamic fusions of the various elements works well. Those clean vocals over the back raspy thatched vocals adds depth. Great opening track.

“Done with Misery” opens with a muted progressive melodic that soon picks up into an aggressive metalcore that leads into some elements of death metal and hints at power chord progressions. Such dynamics are displayed and enriched with emotion as they pair the clean vocals with the harsher, ratched more aggressive style of vocals. The track is amazing and timed well as it builds. So far each song has its own dynamic fingerprint with each having its own elements displayed flawlessly. There are just so many aspects to cover and it's all executed so well that you can't help but notice the immense talent and dedication of SHAMASH. The production value is amazing and produced with skill also. The highs could be turned down just a bit, but nothing to hold too much focus on. I’m impressed with the fusions of various layers and just how precisely they are blended and executed. After so much aggressive intensity, “Interlude” breaks it up with a nice classical melodic guitar that leads into some solid chord progressions that are enriched with emotion. A dynamic background kicks in from time to time that adds to the mood. Before long the emotionally charged melody picks up again with “Nos Pergamos in Domine Saluteum”. What a start to a great track as a heavy drumming times in over a solid heavy guitar riff. Clean vocals build the emotion as it leads in with an intense build up. The overall dynamics of this track are amazing as there is just so much going on but are displayed in all the right ways. A very melodic heavy metalcore track enriched with death metal chord progressions. But those clean vocals carry the track beautifully as it adds further depth and emotional charge.

“The Return of Al Masih”, though a closing track, does not slow down and is just as dynamic and intense as the rest of the album. The chord progressions and timing are equally as impressive as many of the other tracks. The ending is really well done as well as it leads into a speech that closes with echoing out for a bit. Overall, for a band I have not heard of nor would have given much thought to, I am glad I had the opportunity to listen to the album. The dynamic layers and fusion of metalcore and melodic death metal that is at times tinged with elements of technical death to make for an amazing album that is not only charged with emotion but executed flawlessly. I would recommend adding this to your collection if you like death metal and metalcore. For their first debut album, SHAMASH nailed it and I will be keeping my eyes on them for future releases.