VALENSOROW is a Folk Metal/Metalcore band hailing from San Jose, California, USA. Formed in 2012, "Shorestank" is the band's third full-length album, and is has ten songs. "Life in a Cliffside Dwelling" is the first song. The opening tones mirror that of a wooden ship on calm waters. From there, the landscape expands, with Folky elements, harsh vocals, and other elements. The melody in the chorus really shines, and the background is thick with supporting sounds. "The Bird and The Bear" begins with birds chirping, but the harsh and aggressive sounds are not too far behind. I'm not sure what exactly this sound is, but I do like it so far. There is a lot packed into each song.

The title track has some symphonic elements that flirt with the jovial, and there is a combination of clean vocals, harsh vocals, and yep...burps. The backing tones almost sound circus like. "The Korethi Market" begins with spoken words from a street vendor. The music that follows is dark, aggressive, fun, complex, and melodic. It's clear that the band doesn't take themselves too seriously, yet they are wonderful musicians. "Dr. Gorpletonka" isn't your ordinary doctor. It's another odd but pleasing combination of deep Death Metal, and circus noises. At times, you are frightened beyond belief, while other times, you are deep into the melody.

"Giant" is a piece of technical Metal with heavy, aggressive elements and a turn-on-a-dime level of musicianship. "Bangers and Smash" is a tongue in cheek, fun song that does the opposite direction of the previous song. The melodies are so well crafted, and the harsh elements are thick and deep. "Meg "The Leg" is another happy song with a fantastic display of complex musicianship. These guys play tight, and the song changes several times from elements of light and darkness. "Another Big Monster" is just that...a monstrous sound but with plenty of melody and symphonic elements. They command meter and sound changes like a mad scientist, with unpredictable results. "Into the Valley" closes the album, with another combination of jovial melodies and hardened Metal. Again, the chorus is rich with deep, brutal vocals yet free-flowing melodies.

Part Death Metal, part Folk Metal, part Party Metal, VALENSOROW leave no stone unturned on "Shorestank." This was a helluva fun ride to listen to. As far as a genre, they cross into many different areas. They are as adept at the aggressive elements of their music as well as the more melodic ones. This was a very pleasant surprise.