Artist: The Nightchild
Title: Another Shadow
Genre: Post Punk / Gothic Rock
Release Date: 1st March 2011
Label: afmusic
Album Review
Guitar Goth has made a successful bid for revival over the past couple of years with bands like RHOMBUS and THE EDEN HOUSE stepping up to the plate with classic sounding albums moving in new and exciting ways. Yet the Death-Rock side has charmingly clung to it’s 80s roots by its sharp teeth (pretty teeth). THE NIGHTCHILD are no exception with their classic formula and even more classic sounding choices in keyboards and drum machine sounds.
This re-release of their sophomore album includes three tracks previously released on the band’s ‘With Me Single’, but as it is being reissued as a free download value for money isn’t a top priority. The album is up-tempo and emotive with plenty of nice keyboard and guitar melodies driven forward by relentless bass lines. There are a few stand out songs in the forms of ‘Absurd Game’, ‘Behind The Wall Of Sleep’, ‘The Nameless Ghost’, and the title track ‘Another Shadow’ which all display solid song-writing skills and often some real flair.
However there are a few tracks that feel very week in comparison such as the instrumental opener ‘Through The Darkness’ which sucks a lot of energy out of the album. Further criticisms can be found in the vocal delivery that is of the ‘drunken punk’ style which doesn’t fit all the songs. Finally, and perhaps the biggest criticism is, the production is very, very basic. Yes it does have a retro feel, but none of the songs have any oomph to them to make them truly memorable. Which is a damn shame as I suspect that THE NIGHTCHILD are probably an energetic and interesting live band. But when you put ‘Another Shadow’ next to something like DEATHCAMP PROJECT’s ‘Well Known Pleasure’ it becomes painfully clear what the band are lacking.
Tracklist
01. Through The Darkness
02. Absurd Game
03. Insects In The Amber
04. Insanity
05. Behind The Wall Of Sleep
06. Seek And Hide
07. Think Yourself
08. The Nameless Ghost
09. Immortal Bride
10. Another Shadow
11. The Nameless Ghost (feat. Alien Moongazer)
12. With Me
13. Closer
Line-up
Nightchild A.
Holy Cat
Mr. Loopen’
Websites
http://thenightchild.at.ua / http://www.myspace.com/thenightchildband
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 6
Sound: 4
Extras: -
Total: 5 / 10
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