The second album from This Void Inside, My Second Birth-My Only Death, was launched in 2018 at 
Agoge Records and I can say, after a few successive listenings, that it is a solid, diverse album, with catchy songs, well written and produced. As a genre it is a gothic rock / metal, with hard rock, power metal / heavy metal influences and certain electronic passages (for example the Downtrodden track is different from the rest of the album and, slightly remixed, could be broadcast in the club). Dave Shadow started this band in 2003, after leaving My Sixth Shadow. Over the years they have released several albums, but there have been long periods of absence. However, in 2018 they came back with this album and I think the wait was worth it, considering the quality of the songs. It reminded me of bands like Apoptygma Berzerk, Your Hands Divine or Ace of Hearts.
It is a relatively long album (12 tracks + 2 bonuses) that does not get boring, on the contrary, you have to listen to it over and over. Each piece has something that attracts, something personal, it seems that the band has focused on the smallest details, with no truly monotonous or repetitive pieces. There is, of course, a formula that is repeated on most songs, but we don't listen to the same song again and again, or we don't find just three good songs and the rest being extra-material. The album features heavy tracks (Memories' Dust or Break Those Chains) ballads, some quite syrupy (Losing My Angel). Some songs give you energy and joy, others convey melancholy and urge you to introspection. The songs I liked the most are: Memories' Dust, Trapped In A Daze and The Artist And The Muse.
I like that each instrument is clearly heard, that there are several changes of rhythm within the same piece and, most importantly, the choruses are very appropriate, they flow naturally, they do not seem to be tormented or prepared in any ostentatious way before. Dave Shadow's voice is very good, clean, expressive, sometimes it seems tenor, sometimes pop, depending on the song. It may very well go up or down the octaves, depending on how the rhythm dictates it. The riffs are well thought out, some surprisingly good and well worked, and the drums integrate seamlessly. On some songs the organ feels more present, on others it is discrete and the guitars do their job, but in all there is a balance.
My Second Birth-My Only Death may seem like an easy album at first, but it is much more complex than it seems and with each re-listen I discovered new details and new rhythms, they brought to my attention songs that I hadn't notice too well on the first playthrough. It is not perfect, it also has some weak or somewhat commercial moments, but overall it is a strong and well linked album, which I think would satisfy even the most difficult people. Recommended!
Score: 8.5/10Agoge Records and I can say, after a few successive listenings, that it is a solid, diverse album, with catchy songs, well written and produced. As a genre it is a gothic rock / metal, with hard rock, power metal / heavy metal influences and certain electronic passages (for example the Downtrodden track is different from the rest of the album and, slightly remixed, could be broadcast in the club). Dave Shadow started this band in 2003, after leaving My Sixth Shadow. Over the years they have released several albums, but there have been long periods of absence. However, in 2018 they came back with this album and I think the wait was worth it, considering the quality of the songs. It reminded me of bands like Apoptygma Berzerk, Your Hands Divine or Ace of Hearts.It is a relatively long album (12 tracks + 2 bonuses) that does not get boring, on the contrary, you have to listen to it over and over. Each piece has something that attracts, something personal, it seems that the band has focused on the smallest details, with no truly monotonous or repetitive pieces. There is, of course, a formula that is repeated on most songs, but we don't listen to the same song again and again, or we don't find just three good songs and the rest being extra-material. The album features heavy tracks (Memories' Dust or Break Those Chains) ballads, some quite syrupy (Losing My Angel). Some songs give you energy and joy, others convey melancholy and urge you to introspection. The songs I liked the most are: Memories' Dust, Trapped In A Daze and The Artist And The Muse.
I like that each instrument is clearly heard, that there are several changes of rhythm within the same piece and, most importantly, the choruses are very appropriate, they flow naturally, they do not seem to be tormented or prepared in any ostentatious way before. Dave Shadow's voice is very good, clean, expressive, sometimes it seems tenor, sometimes pop, depending on the song. It may very well go up or down the octaves, depending on how the rhythm dictates it. The riffs are well thought out, some surprisingly good and well worked, and the drums integrate seamlessly. On some songs the organ feels more present, on others it is discrete and the guitars do their job, but in all there is a balance.
My Second Birth-My Only Death may seem like an easy album at first, but it is much more complex than it seems and with each re-listen I discovered new details and new rhythms, they brought to my attention songs that I hadn't notice too well on the first playthrough. It is not perfect, it also has some weak or somewhat commercial moments, but overall it is a strong and well linked album, which I think would satisfy even the most difficult people. Recommended!
Tracks:
- 01. My Second Birth/My Only Death (Intro)
- 02. Betrayer MMXVIII
- 03. Relegate My Past
- 04. Memories' Dust
- 05. Trapped In A Daze
- 06. Here I Am
- 07. Another Fucking Love Song
- 08. Losing My Angel
- 09. Meteora (feat. Max Aguzzi, Diego Reali)
- 10. Ocean Of Tears
- 11. All I Want Is U
- 12. Break Those Chains
- 13. The Artist And The Muse (Bonus)
- 14. Downtrodden (Bonus)
Band: This Void Inside
Album: My Second Birth-My Only Death
Record Label: Agoge Records
Released: 2018
