NEGATIVEHATE Show Evolution of Style and Skills on 8 Song ‘Shapeshifter’ Album
NEGATIVEHATE Show Evolution of Style and Skills on ‘Shapeshifter’
The eclectic band combines metal and prog rock with spiritual lyrics
Western NY-based post metal band Negativehate has just released their most recent album, Shapeshifter with even more styles and skills showcased than their previous works. With an interesting combination of metal and prog rock music and subversively spiritual lyrics, Shapeshifter shows the range of this already eclectic band.
With a jazzy and progressive rock base that merges into metal, post metal and post rock, Negativehate has the vibe of Tom Waits meets The Sword, Incubus meets Stevie Ray Vaughn or Deftones meets Mashed Potato Johnson. It sounds chaotic, but with five talented musicians and brilliant songwriting and production, it’s as cohesive and natural as if all these genres and styles have always gone together.
Having formed in 2012 and with big gaps in when their first albums released, it seems now Negativehate are releasing with more regularity, which means they’re gearing up to really establish this concept with Shapeshifter. According to producer and co-guitar/vocalist Chuck Scandura, is as much about the science and spirituality of sound as it is about the multi-genre jam band feel.
The songs on Shapeshifter feel less esoteric than previous efforts. Even the non-adventurous listener might be enchanted by Shapeshifter’s more fluid and emotional songcraft.
While they may feel more emotive and less large concept than Negativehate’s previous efforts, new listeners will still find loads of spiritual themes wound into the fabric of the music via the lyrics; they are simply told more as stories or fables than directly naming their point. The deep connection with the Earth and the cosmos is still there on full display in Negativehate’s new album, and it works to ground the tightly composed yet constantly genre-hopping progressive music.
For the release of Shapeshifter, Negativehate have also released two videos and two visualizers, the most recent of which is for the longest track on the album, “Hrethgir.” A seemingly barebones video with some very realistic fire effects, it reinforces the band’s message of connecting the Earth to the sublime via music and is just as intense as the band’s music.
Fans of any genre from jazz to blues to metal and even electronic production should give a listen to Negativehate and stay tuned as they continue to release though-provoking work like Shapeshifter.
Watch the official music video for “Hrethgir” on Youtube.
Stream the full “Shapeshifter” album on Spotify.
Listen or purchase on Bandcamp.
More Info:
- Artist Name: Negativehate
- Location: Monroe NY
- Release Title: Shapeshifter
- Release Date: 8-26-2023
- Label: Independent
- Producer Name(s): Drums recorded by Kevin McMahon at Marcata Studio
The album is self-produced by Charles Scandura - Similar/RIYL: Tool, Deftones, Sleep Token, Katatonia, The Contortionist
- Genre(s): Post Metal, Prog Rock, Post Rock
Musician Names/Instruments:
Freedom Scheyd – Guitar/ Vocals
Chuck Scandura – Guitar/Vocals
Eric Stewart – Bass Guitar
Mike Stewart – Keys/Vocals
Matt Howard – Guitar
Jacob Morales – Drums (live)
Sergio Sanchez (shapeshifter album)
Tracklist:
- Infinity Bias
- Echo Paradigm
- Obsidain Dawn
- Dreams of the Yellow King
- Shapeshifter
- Hrethgir
- Luminous Abyss
- Hireath
Artist Bio:
Since their inception, Negativehate has proven themselves a creative behemoth capable of highly textured emotional sonic art. Their musical path spans a diverse landscape of genres. Whether expressed in the experimental heavy industrial soundscapes of their seminal work Earth Spirit Down the math grindcore of Annabell the Cannibal, the dungeon hip hop of Bilewiki Torture Tactics, or their doom/jazz/progressive infusions of the epic Solipsis album Negativehate has never felt constrained to repeat themselves. Their focus on creating unique emotional songs has always been their prime motivator.
Description of the Shapeshifter Album:
Negativehate’s newest release Shapeshifter slated for release on August 26th 2023 is a diverse collection.
One familiar with Negativehate’s previous work will notice that Negativehate’s songwriting has evolved. The songs on Shapeshifter feel less esoteric than previous efforts. Even the non-adventurous listener might be enchanted by Shapeshifter’s more fluid and emotional songcraft.
A broad spectrum of musical styles is covered on this album alone. But the diversity on Shapeshifter never sounds forced. In the opening track, Infinity Bias a hauntingly colorful melody evolves into a dark rock song that seamlessly develops into a post-rock interlude before being punctuated by dissonant heavy riff work. The song Obsidian Dawn starts with a melodic post-rock ramp-up that ultimately blossoms into a full-fledged 70’s style progressive rock anthem. Dreams of the Yellow King is a modern metal song that pulls no punches. The title track Shapeshifter starts with an eerie requiem that progresses into an epic guitar-driven post-metal dirge. The album continues in this fashion, never testing the listener in sheer obscurity but always dancing in the peripheries of unbridled creativity.
This album is the product of a band at the height of their creativity. It should prove rewarding to any music connoisseur interested in hearing heavy rock music that is unique and at times emotionally stirring.
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