The Demo Review:
SiH There are currently 1 Reviews of this Demo.
Average Rating: 4
Band Name: Shakespeare in Hell
Demo Title: The Tempest
Band Members: Kevin Kish - Vocals/Keyboards, Kevin Guillory - Guitars/Vocals, Steve Gipson - Guitars, Daniel Eschete - Bass, Dave Morris - Drums.
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Official Web Site for This Artist
  • Discuss on the Metal Judgment Web Board

    • Blind's Review:
    Having read a lot of Shakespeare in high school and college--and not liking it--I nonetheless found this band's concept to be interesting. Why anyone would like Shakespeare enough to create albums around his works is beyond me, but that's beside the point.

    The Tempest reminds me of Samael's Passage and maybe contemporary Sentenced. This is despite the band's press release, which claims Shakespeare in Hell's (SiH) music as, "melodic progressive death metal". Maybe Gothenburg metal, but it's not really brutal enough to be classified as death. It's more like borderline doom metal with more atmosphere. (The Tempest also lacks any significant speed, which I believe is essential in death metal.)

    Other aspects of this disc:

    1. Production: very good. I have heard better, but this one shines among demos. My biggest problem is that I can barely hear the bass guitar (and I have an excellent sound system).
    2. Vocals: one could compare them to Children of Bodom. There's a mid-toned growl and some tame screeching. The vox fit the music well.
    3. Drums: it sounds to me like there is a drum machine. SiH's press release did not indicate a drummer. I dug his name up on the web site. That leads me to believe that he was a late addition. Still, the sounds are all right--again, reminding me of modern-day Samael.
    4. Musicianship: interesting. I think this band needs to lessen the distortion on guitars and turn the keyboards down. These two elements detract from some very creative and catchy riffing.

    I would like to give this release three skulls, but I cannot. It would not really be fair to the band. SiH has put out a quality release that deserves attention; that is why it gets four skulls.

    My personal opinion, however, is that this disc is a bit dull. All of the songs are the same pace, there is too much emphasis on keyboards, and the music does not really seem to go anywhere. However, I am also not a doom metal fan per se, so my thoughts on the subject--subjectively, of course--are not exactly relevant. The Tempest, especially for a demo, is a solid album that will please fans of this genre.

    Two word review: solid sludge.
    4 out of 5

    [- Metal Judgment Home -]    [- Email Metal Judgment -]
    ©2002 Metal Judgment. All rights reserved.