Band:	Blackshine
Album:	Lifeblood
Style:	Thrash metal
Release date:	2006
A review by:	Jeff

01. Cure In The Shape Of Noise
02. Born A Denier
03. Lifeblood
04. Stonefog
05. Powerghoul
06. Unbroken
07. Burn The World
08. Face In The Bastard God
09. Dwell In Black
10. Second Rate Blasphemer
11. Denial Of Pain

The biography of the band on the promotional CD says that Blackshine plays Power Goth or Goth 'n' Roll? well, when I first listened to the first song of the album I said to myself, "what the fuck? It's just one new Gothenburg Metal band?" but I was actually a bit wrong. For sure, (and the track number 1 "Cure In The Shape Of Noise" is unfortunately not the better example) Blackshine have some Gothenburg Metal influences in its music, but this is also mixed with Heavy Metal and dark music. If it's not the big discovering of the year, it's at least original and not bad at all?

"Lifeblood" is not an unpleasant album. The band found a way to mix the power and catchiness of Gothenburg Death with the melodies of Power and Heavy Metal with finally some little touches of dark music. At the end I could say that Blackshine play an aggressive dark Power Metal and for sure I can tell you that it's really effective. The good thing with this album is that it doesn't sound like the soundof some others bands. Of course, I can't deny that some of you will remember In Flames but there are always those little touches of Heavy and Power everywhere so it's a bit different at the end.

With some good musicians, with a singer with a really special deep voice and with a good recording, "Lifeblood" is a good release. If some songs like "Cure In The Shape Of Noise" are a bit basic and deceiving, some others like "Born A Denier" with its perfect chorus are real hit. It's not really surprising if the band had the luck to open for Bruce Dickinson, without being fantastic, their music works so I don't see why some of you couldn't find any interest in this release.

"Lifeblood" is a good album. Please, have a look on all the tracks, some are clearly betters than some others but in general it's good to listen to this release. The band found a way to produce something that we cannot listen to everyday and strangely this album doesn't sound so "European" and that's a good thing in my opinion. If you're looking for a nice release without any pretensions, try "Lifeblood", I'm sure that you'll have some good surprises.