Another Side Of You

"Swiss modern metal upstarts ILLUMISHADE unveil their magical sophomore record and Napalm Records debut, Another Side of You, out February 16 2024! Fronted by vocalist Fabienne Erni and guitarist Jonas Wolf (both of Eluveitie) and completed with orchestration and synths by film composer Mirjam Skal, bass by Yannick Urbanczik, and drums by Marc Friedrich, ILLUMISHADE balances skillfully between dark and light on Another Side of You. Erni’s radiant charisma shines brighter than ever with her crystal-clear vocal delivery. Wolf’s guitar work surely seems as blazing and emotional as ever, while a fresh dose of modern prog brings a cutting edge to the band’s elaborate songwriting. The successor to ILLUMISHADE’s acclaimed debut album, titled ECLYPTIC: Wake Of Shadows, Another Side of You showcases a more modern approach in both lyrics and music at times, yet still transports the listener into an immersive world rich in mesmerizing soundscapes (even enhanced by the Budapest Art Orchestra for certain parts), massive and dreamlike vocal lines, marking the perfect start of a brand new chapter for this promising outfit. Straight out of the gate, opener “ELEGY” darkens the sonic sky with heavy riffs, ominous soundscapes, and a soothing chorus. Even a Theremin makes an appearance, showcasing the band’s experimental palette right from the beginning. Skal’s ethereal tapestries of cinematic greatness lie heavy over the pounding rhythm section. Even more so on its even heavier relative “CYCLONE”, which expands on this approach, making it the progressive pièce de résistance of the album with its cinematic swathes of sound, Meshuggah-esque lead guitar assaults, and even a majestic finale reminiscent of Pink Floyd having a child with Tesseract.