Not often, if ever, you hear of a band from Russia, and Shadow Host’s first demo was released in 1994, with “Apocalyptic Symphony” their 6th full length album. The band’s album download bio describes them as Speed/Thrash/Power metallers influenced by Testament, Forbidden, Artillery, Evile, and Blind Guardian (whom they opened for, plus Grave Digger, Stratovarius, Nightwish, Edguy and Gamma Ray. These guys put themselves in good company.

The Blind Guardian influence (it appears at times) from their 90s speed/metal power metal songs like the album’s closer ‘Apocalypse Within’, and for the melodic balladesque ‘Seeds Of Sorrow’. Evile is heard in the vocal tone and present in the pounding ‘Reborn In Hate’, Artillery found in a couple song structures and progressions (see ‘Treason’). Testament I can see in the straight ahead crushing delivery and some of the thrash riffs in say ‘Guardians Of The Wretched’, and ‘Devine And Rule’ even has a feel of ‘The Haunting’ the way melodic leads open the track. But, I also hear throughout the album some Nevermore in the guitar tone and delivery in ‘Lunacy Devine’ and ‘Empty Eyes’.

“Apocalyptic Symphony” comes very recommended, a well polished infusion of influences.