Album Review: Shade – Combat Rave

After having to cancel a hometown show, as well as UK tour dates, the Hamilton, ON five-piece ‘Shade’ are hosting a ‘cyber release party’ over on their Facebook page this Friday (May 1^st). The Canadian rockers – citing Britpop, psychedelia and grunge as elements of influence – are dropping their debut album through Toronto-based indie label Sleepless Records.

‘Combat Rave’ starts promisingly enough: opening song, and previous single, ‘Brain Suck’ twangs brightly while vocalist Stephane Senecal-Tremblay sneers, until it explodes into satisfyingly thick, grungy fuzz. Over the next couple of songs though, the self-styled ‘guitar band’s influences become obvious – both ‘Moneymaker’ and the title track itself are guilty of veering into far-too-familiar territory, despite the potential loitering in the grimy opening riffs and grooves. The punkier ‘Colour of Dreams’ feels a bit more ‘authentic’ at least, like they’re letting loose a little.

The second half of the album submits to a darker and moodier edge: ‘Easy Evil’ and ‘Controller’ struggle to shake off lethargic lurching tones; while elsewhere, the acoustic guitar becomes more prominent on the mid-paced janglers ‘She Told Me’ and ‘Drive Me Wild’. The spacious dirge of ‘Tell Me’ winds the tempo down even further – washed in feedback and vagaries such as: “Tell me what you love, tell me what love is”. As if to emphasis the slump into the shade, the closing ‘GTFO’ should be the meatier, sinister twin of opening track ‘Brain Suck’, but feels weighty and sluggish in comparison.

There’s some solid, if not plain ‘safe’, songwriting on offer here, and ultimately Shade aren’t casting light on anything new musically.

Like rock that embraces both big chords and spacey ambiances ? ‘Combat Rave’ is available digitally through Bandcamp, or on CD/vinyl via Sleepless Records. Shade have an official website, as well as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.