 | *shels Sea of the Dying Dhow
4.0
excellent
| Ranking: #140 for 2007 | |
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| | Full Review | Ratings (305) |
Give your Rating |
| 4.0 excellent | pixiesfanyo | June 23rd 07 |
So, what is Shels exactly? In my opinion it is one of the finest attempts to incorporate metalcore aesthetics into a progressive rock setting. Basically, they succeed where other bands have failed. They are able to be progressive without being overtly cheesy (like, say, Between the Buried and Me's "Alaska"), and they are able to be progressive without entering realms of unnecessary pretension (like the middle of Pax Cecilia's "Blessed are the Bonds"). Sure, I could throw out a list of comparisons to groups like Kayo Dot or Isis in hopes that some of their fans might streamline through this review and check them out, but Shels really doesn't embrace the arty atmosphere of either band. Everything on this album is meticulously arranged, but is also grounded in a solid base genre of metalcore. Essentially, I guess it is the best of both worlds; complete originality and full blown clich? Whatever is the key to Shels successful formula, it works and "Sea of the Dying Dhow" effortlessly proves that.
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | Bedex | November 12th 24 |
I was so hyped by the opener. Agalloch acoustics, unexpected (kinda cheesy) clean vocals, then big riffage with traces of brass, harsh post-metal vocals, a coherent yet very dynamic structure, all the elements were there. 2 was a nice interlude maybe, but my attention drifted away progressively. The riffage on 4 is quite nice. I kinda dig the little plucky sounds on 5 but the riffage that ensues is a bit tepid. 6 roped me in again with much stronger riffage. By 9 however, my attention frankly wasn't there, and although the acoustic guitars remained lovely, the occasional cheesy clean vocals really did not work for me. 10 could have been a good closer, but 11 returns with a much longer and more attention-grabbing track, bringing back sparse but excellent harsh vocals. The band feel like they do much better at long epics in a flow state and mix genres, rather than mini crescendo tracks that die into not very much after 4 minutes, or riffage with less build up. Album probably could have used a bit of trimming in the middle (it's 62min after all). Still strong and a cool debut, hoping the next one focuses more on those excellent traits they have. 3.7
Bump |
| 3.5 great | Reini Eden | May 4th 19 |
The instrumentation is really fucking good but it does drag a bit. I do really like this but idk something is keeping me from giving this a four probably the vocal effects I don't like.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | evenmaine | September 4th 08 |
Best modern and particularly underground band ever, they mix ambient with heavy riffs and are not afraid to experiment with other styles, with members of eden maine, mahumodo and now bossk they are quickly becoming a piece of art rather than a band. This album is the best of theirs in my opinion, but nothing is better than seeing them live, they know what they are doing and want their message spread.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | P13 | August 6th 07 |
I really love this band and all that they have compiled into this album. From the soft Indian (1 and 2) to the harder Sea
of the Dying Dhow it is a real change from the more chaotic Tera Melos and Mars Volta i am digging right now. The
bonus track (i guess it is bonus) In Dead Palm Fields really makes my day when I listen to it, it's easily one of the most
climactic songs I've ever heard.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Mojito | January 18th 25 |
| 3.5 great | Glovoc | December 9th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jake E. | August 14th 24 |
| 3.5 great | ffs | March 8th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Emo | April 5th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Martvyk | February 2nd 22 |
| 4.5 superb | luetin | September 20th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Josh | May 21st 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Apathya | January 24th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Macck | December 6th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | RedBol | September 28th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Prancer | November 13th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | aGit | September 29th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | crab | January 29th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | zbyna | December 29th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | JayM | December 11th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | qwenta | November 27th 18 |
| 2.5 average | LamboGD | September 9th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | TedCruz | February 17th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | N2B3J | January 20th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | pumi | December 27th 17 |
| 3.0 good | helti | December 8th 17 |
| 3.0 good | p4p | March 12th 17 |
| 3.5 great | bmelt | November 13th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | hsb | November 10th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | DS4562 | October 30th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Wolfe | October 22nd 16 |
| 3.5 great | Jade | May 17th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | jtswope | November 10th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Greem | October 26th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Bierlag | October 25th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | fll | October 15th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | mikep87 | April 16th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | amenra | February 11th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Rudhira | February 18th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tropby | January 22nd 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | h0rsie | November 24th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | akimbo | October 29th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Uqnivde | October 26th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | tlhk | October 26th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Matski | September 28th 13 |
| 2.5 average | dosia | July 18th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ulshad | July 10th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | mirfin | June 10th 13 |
| 3.5 great | JS19 | June 6th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Veldin | May 24th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | T5Cx | April 15th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | SmersH | March 5th 13 |
| 3.0 good | VinVal | February 21st 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | zakalwe | February 20th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Propose | December 30th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | junyi15 | August 28th 12 |
| 3.5 great | KSK1 | July 2nd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Apoc | June 2nd 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Yami | May 27th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rail | May 20th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Trey STAFF | April 26th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | nex77 | April 15th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Shukal | March 11th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | gervin | February 21st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Foaming | February 12th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | cb123 | February 5th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Aids | January 31st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | maciej | December 1st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jarvig | October 9th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Tupik | September 20th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Lappo | September 17th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | BlueW | September 2nd 11 |
| 3.5 great | itchy | July 13th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jebull | July 3rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Voivod STAFF | May 30th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Elwood | March 10th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lineman | February 5th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Matis | January 7th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | IN64 | September 25th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Dvst | September 14th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | ameypv | July 15th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Photon | July 2nd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | vakuola | June 13th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Manic_ | April 18th 10 |
| 3.0 good | gonzab | March 26th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Thor | August 31st 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Napes | December 15th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sleepy | July 31st 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | mgmg | July 1st 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sponer | March 2nd 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | zuzek | January 18th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kodan | December 23rd 07 |
| 3.0 good | tuff | October 30th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | MeowMeow | September 19th 07 |
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