by Derric Miller
— Managing Editor —
On their debut, Shining Black gave the Power/Progressive Metal world a slap in the teeth with a decidedly unparalleled release in years. It was … unexpected, at best. All that success did was light the flame to burn it even brighter, and somehow they did just that on Postcards from the End of the World.
The brains behind the release are singer Mark Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen, Ring Of Fire, Royal Hunt) and guitarist Ölaf Thorson (Labyrinth, Vision Divine). In a sense, this is the kind of album Yngwie Malmsteen wanted to create but never accomplished, and quit trying. Shining Black is carrying that majesty and melody forward into something far, far better …
The title track opens the release, and immediately you hear Boals at the top of his game. He has wiped away that vibrato he overused when introduced to the Metal world, and like few singers from that era, keeps getting better. There’s so much melody packed alongside the pounding drums from Matt Peruzzi. Can the rest of the release be this good?
“We are Death Angels” is heavy, a blistering composition. It’s a battlefield anthem, with those dying in the warfare and fighting until they have no more breaths to give. Crank it, sing along–why is it Europeans understand this music so much better than Americans? That’s a conversation for the end of the world …
“Like Leaves in November” allows Thorson to glimmer with a soft, intricate intro, and then a somber sense of mourning covers the scene with Boals’ haunting vocals. If anything, Postcards at the End of the World is more melodically crafted than their debut, making the album new and more enticing with each listen.
“Faded Pictures of Me” is a melancholy track, which tells a story of loss of friends and lovers. “This is a picture of me yesterday; looks like I’m fighting hard against the wind.” There’s triumph on the album, but for this moment, it’s a reality check to keep living on when dreams die.
We end the journey on the somewhat shoulder-shrugging narrative of “Time Heals–They Say.” When Boals sings, “Time keeps passing but the sky’s not blue,” it carries the album them to closure. The flux of time and failures culminates in the last chapter of this story.
Thorson and Boals are just perfect partners for each other. They’ve obviously found success apart, but neither musician can hold one of their releases to a Shining Black album and say it’s even as good. Because this is the best both players have ever sounded. Shining Black beats down the dullness of this oversaturated genre, creating something fresh, new, and invigorating, instead of blending in with the crowd. Shining Black does … stand alone.
Genre: Progressive/Power Metal
Band:
Mark Boals – Vocals
Olaf Thorsen – Guitars
Oleg Smirnoff – Keyboards & Piano
Nik Mazzucconi – Bass
Matt Peruzzi – Drums
Tracklisting:
Postcards From The End Of The World
Higher Than The World
We Are Death Angels
Summer Solstice Under Delphi’s Sky
Like Leaves In November
A Hundred Thousand Shades Of Black
Faded Pictures Of Me
Mirror Of Time
Fear And Loathing
Time Heals, They Say
Label: Frontiers Records
Online:
https://www.facebook.com/ShiningBlackband
Hardrock Haven rating: 
(9.1 / 10)
