Shadow Cut
PICTURES OF DEATH

March 2005
Released: 2005, Firebox Records
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewer: Luxi Lahtinen

Shadow Cut was formed in the end of 2002 by Omnio, and Repe F.W. Misanthrope (also drums in Impaled Nazarene). Only a week before the recording of PICTURES OF DEATH, Mitja Hirvilahti from Moonsorrow joined to complete the line-up of Shadow Cut.



If you dare to expect something along the lines of Moonsorrow and Impaled Nazarene musically, then prepare to be disappointed. I think it´s somewhat fair to say Shadow Cut has wisely chosen to stay away from anything that could be a reminiscent of either Moonsorrow or ImpNaz as there is really no point in imitating the success of the main bands.



Shadow Cut, to put it simply, plays Death Metal with strong Black Metal overtones in their hateful sounding songs. Their overall sound is very powerful and surprisingly heavy. They keep their songs kinda simple and pretty straight forward, not trying to surprise their listeners. For instance “My Sweet Cult” is almost like a pure Dark Funeral worshipping from start to finish (THE SECRETS OF THE BLACK ARTS –era) and is also one of the better songs on PICTURES OF DEATH. I don´t try to deny that everything on this 9-song effort sounds somewhat familiar, but should music always be that ´original´, ´unique´,or ´revolutionary´? You see, everything has already been invented many times over, so let’s just credit Shadow Cut for the achievement of their debut. I enjoy what the Shadow Cut -trio has offered through these 9 blackish Death Metal tracks on P.O.D. even if it´s all been heard, tasted and farted out before.



Such songs as “Hate”, “The End of Humanity” and “Inter Arma” are all cool pieces of well-crafted and solid Black-Death Metal songs that don´t pretend to be something else. If that´s something you are looking for, then by all means, check them out.