"Shadows" is the first full-length album from the Italian black/death metal band, SPIRAL WOUNDS. Black metal and death metal complement each other when blended correctly. If the merging of these subgenres is not done with the utmost care, the end product can end up sounding either bland or cacophonous. This album manages to sound both bland and cacophonous. Couple this with a few fatal production flaws, and you have a real piece of work on your hands.

The album's first track, "Beneath the Mud," features near-guttural death metal vocals and shrieking black metal vocals akin to Dani Filth's early work with CRADLE OF FILTH. Also, both of these vocal tracks are considerably lower than the instruments in the mix, something that is quickly becoming a pet peeve of mine. The vocals also clash with each other. The fact that both vocal styles are at the extremes of their respective subgenres makes nearly every track a chore to listen to.

The guitar tone on the second track, "Dreaming Fears," sounds muddy. In fact, the entire first half of the album sounds veiled. The same vocal issues on "Beneath the Mud" are also present on this track. The instrumentation also brings nothing new to the table. This song's one saving grace is that the bass guitar is featured prominently and sounds acceptable.

"Declino" has an interesting intro that devolves into a little too much vamping on the guitars. The bass tone also sounds a bit off. The black metal vocals lack emotion, and the death metal vocals are similarly underwhelming. The drums and guitars actually sound passable in this case, which is the song's only saving grace.

"So I Die," the album's seventh track marks a sort of turning point for "Shadows." The black metal vocals are almost as loud as the instruments, correcting one of the first half's systemic issues. This track also has some enjoyable riffs. Unfortunately, the death metal-style vocals sound like muffled dog barks.

The drums on "Luminary Clarity" are the song's high points. There is a part where both vocal styles are played together. The black metal vocals are still louder than the death metal ones, and the entire part makes for a difficult listening experience. The death metal vocals do get a volume boost midway through this song, which is a welcome change.

The album's final track, "Shadows Of The Murderous Death," reverts back to the vocal volume issue on the majority of the tracks. The song begins with the loud ringing of a bell to set the mood. The drums are nice, but the bass and guitar parts leave a lot to be desired. Later in the song, the music slows, but the speed of the vocal delivery remains lightning fast. At long last, the album ends with whispered black metal vocals and more bell ringing.

With "Shadows," SPIRAL WOUNDS have created a deeply flawed black/death metal album that should be avoided at all costs. There are times when certain parts of certain tracks approach mediocrity, but, unfortunately, that's as good as the album gets. From the muddy guitars to the ever-changing vocal volume to the disharmonious relationship between vocal styles, "Shadows" is just not worth anyone's time.