Shadow Limb - Reclaim - Metal Epidemic

Shadow Limb – Reclaim
Release Date: 29th March 2024
Label: Seeing Red Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Doom, Sludge, Atmospheric Sludge, Post-Metal, Progressive Sludge.
FFO: Mastodon, Chrome Ghost, Green Lung, Horseburner, Green Druid.
Review By: Mark Young

Reclaim is the second album of sludgy delights from California based Shadow Limb.

To Reclaim starts off the proceedings with a gentle touch before bursting into life, stomping with a riff that moves and grooves that reminds me of early Mastodon. It’s a steady start that shows that they are as comfortable dropping filthy riffs, as they are with subtle moments. There is a great command of melody that runs through it. Vocals switch between full-throated and subtle with a glorious sound. Snake Mountain sees them bring an epic arrangement, it’s as heavy as it is inventive, with a doom-filled ode to the Masters of the Universe in its middle section. I love this as it makes the following heavier parts that bit heavier with a simple but incredibly effective riff pattern. The solo that sits over the top is first class, extended out to close the song so well. The drumming here is fabulous, keeping the song moving forward whilst the guitars freak out.

Destitute picks up where Snake Mountain left off, having found their range now they build and build into a bulldozing refrain, twin arrangements running at the same time superbly anchored by the drums. Wisely pulling that back to avoid fatigue by having a lighter arrangement which allows them to keep those melodic flourishes coming through. It’s one of those songs that would be excellent to play along to as there is so much to take in, especially when they drop the riff at 6 minutes, sounding like an impending apocalypse. There is an almost jaunty start to The Maneuver, with its harmony chords and bounding bass plugging along. Again, it shows the breadth of creativity at their disposal so that when they go loud it really hits. A tight riff blossoms into a lead break that sits so well, it’s criminal.

If the Riddle of Steel is not about my favorite Cimmerian, then there is going to be murder. This is great fun, still inventive, and doesn’t stray too far from the musical ideas displayed earlier. Burn Scar is the last track on the standard release, weighing in at 11 minutes, and possesses a ponderous, almost melancholic start to it. They keep that feel, but amp up its attack, steady enough as they start to move through the gears occupying that quick-time space. Long tracks need that certain something to keep you engaged with it, and this has it. This is a definite journey with them, everything balanced so well with quick flurries of activity that wrong-foot you at every turn. This has shoe-horned its way onto my songs of 2024 list because it has so much going on, and I know I’ve said that earlier, but this has the lot going for it. Heavy with melody, tempered attack when required, this is stunning stuff and doesn’t let up. There just isn’t a dull moment, and they have got to get over to the UK to do this live. It is that good.

There is a digital bonus track Soon included in my review copy, and to be honest it will have to go some way to get near the quality of Burn Scar. It goes a different route, with a more restrained performance in its early moments. The programmed drums give an altered sonic feel, and the vocal delivery is changed to suit the more laid-back attack with the lyrics sung. The arrangement swells behind the vocal delivery, and tonally it is totally different and for me changes the dynamic slightly when held against the others. It doesn’t change the fact that this is a stunning album. It has everything that I love about heavy music and does it without repetition. This is one of the albums of the year. Buy it.