Shift – Abandon (CD Album – Cold Spring)
Genre/Influences: Death-industrial, noise-ambient.
Background/Info: Shift was set up in the late 90s by Swedish artist Martin Willford. He released several productions, which were mainly characterized by a harsh and death-industrial inspired approach. The new work has been accomplished together with some guest artists revealing 4 new cuts. The album is also available on vinyl format (released on Unrest Productions).
Content: The key to understand the sonic universe of this album hides in its title. “Abandon” is a terrific feeling, which has been transposed into an extreme sonic creation. Shift appears to be a kind of sonic ogre, transforming sounds into harsh, boiling noises. Resonating sounds and industrial guitar parts are accentuating “Abandon”.
+ + + : This work is quite diversified although characterized by heavy noises creating a state of terror. The tracks have been progressively built up although to reach an ultimate apotheosis. That’s precisely what happens on the final cut “Armed, Disturbed, Hostile” accentuated by a slow cadence. When you’re just reading the titles you directly can imagine the tormented atmosphere hanging over the album. This sensation is empowered by the heavy, vibrating sound waves, which when played at a higher volume will give you goose bumps.
– – – : “Abandon” is a fully enjoyable album, but it doesn’t really reveal anything new. I got the impression to have already heard this kind of work before.
Conclusion: Shift is not releasing new albums on regular basis, but this new opus definitely belongs to the band’s best productions to date!
Best songs: “Armed, Disturbed, Hostile”, “Recaptured II”.
Rate: (8).
Label: www.coldspring.co.uk / www.facebook.com/coldspringhq
Support Side-Line
More people read Side-Line than ever, and there is still no paywall and no advertising. Readers pay for it instead - from $5 a month.
Why we ask
Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations we have not put up a paywall, and we refuse to add annoying advertising, so we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes time, money and hard work to produce, and we do it to push the artists we like, who are equally fighting to survive.
Handled by PayPal.
I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
