13th February 2024

Review: “Shadow” by Secrets of Mariana

Eight long years after their sophomore EP “No Escape” surfaced in July 2016, the return of Midlands Metallers Secrets of Mariana is one that we feared would never happen. However the band themselves had other ideas and refusing to give up the dream they released single “Cut & Run” in Friday 13th October 2023. That date feels like it has some tongue in cheek humour attached to it and now three months on we have full EP “Shadow“. Recorded at The Mushrooms Studios in Birmingham by the band themselves (with the exception of the drums which were recorded and edited by Dan Willett), mixed by Matt Williams (Mercury Rising, Witch King, Beyond Extinction) at Soundlab Studios before being mastered by Kain Hatton at SoundBetter, the record is adorned by artwork from Rob Steele of Steele and Ink Tattoo Studio…

It always pays to expect the unexpected but sometimes something completely broadsides you like the collision between the car and semi-truck in that Nicolas Cage film “The Knowing“. That’s what it’s like listening to the opening of “Bury The Pieces” as razor sharp Metalcore riffs get the adrenaline flowing and seemingly from out of nowhere some brutal unclean vocals threaten to lead to an ear canal collapse. What’s incredible is that despite the harshness of those vocals which are reminiscent of Candace Kucsulain from American Metallic Hardcore outfit Walls Of Jericho, there are also cleans which are the polar opposite like Whitney Cooper from Arimea. Warm and soulful they give the impression of a second vocalist where there is only Amy Wyatt. On this one, the band skilfully avoid the classic slow down for the clean vocals as well, a testament to their writing abilities. Solid groove laden riffs keep coming in plentiful fashion with “Fear“, a cut that has a little spoken word moment in the centre to add a little spice, the rhythmic battery from the kit executed with military precision. Title track “Shadow” grabs the attention with some 2003 American Metalcore riffs in the vein of As I Lay Dying, the galloping drums and slick bassline a call to the mosh pit that is broken by the huge arena filling chorus. Then there is the solo and it’s a total face melter, tastefully in keeping with its surroundings and capable of starting a serious fire. Pushing the boundaries in both directions, “Cut & Run” then introduces a little more melody with some longer clean vocal moments and then on the flipside gets more savage with the uncleans. It’s as if there is more emotion attached to the song lyrically and it bleeds out into the performance to fine effect. The guitars are equally vicious with breakdowns that slap hard and pile up quickly, the band showing absolutely no fear in their approach. As a record this one is littered with changes of pace and approach, all seamlessly done and well refined but here it feels like they added some magic dust or something because it has that little bit more about it. There is of course plenty of time for a sing-a-long anthem and “Can You Hear Me” is exactly that, a tidy solo in the centre leading to bombastic heavier riffs in the final third. Slick and polished, you can count the hours that have been poured into this one to get it to match the vision and that has paid off handsomely [8/10]

Track Listing