TRAIL OF MURDER - Shades Of Art (2012)

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TRAIL OF MURDER is a brand-new band from Bollnäs in Sweden, founded by vocalist Urban Breed and guitarist Daniel Olsson after having left the metal band Tad Morose.
Drummer Pelle Akerlund, who had already worked with Breed previously in another Swedish act (Bloodbound) was soon added and the three of them started working on their debut album, "Shades Of Art".

At the time there was no need for adding a bass player as all three of them could play the bass. In the fall of 2011 they entered the Black Lounge Studio where they recorded and mixed the album with Jonas Kjellgren at the helm.
"Shades Of Art" is being published by German label AOR Heaven but through their subsidiary Metal Heaven. After listening the CD there's no wonder why they've choosen this brand: Trail Of Murder is quite heavy.
But as usually occurs with this Germanic record company - as it were a premise - all the artists signed with them are extremely melodic.

So what "Shades Of Art" is all about? Trail Of Murder's style is Euro Melodic Metal, even in a pair of tracks close to power, but at the same time many songs on offer here display a clear Melodic Hard Rock wink. Edgy for sure, yet hooky as hell.
Breed's timbre, and in fact much of the musicality of this band recalls Mike Vescera's MVP. With dazzling guitars, damn good drumming from Åkerlind and the magical classic metal voice of Breed contributes to a rigid and vigorously wall of sound that swells for every spin.
Perhaps one of highlights of the CD, "Higher", is the best representation of this band: power and melody.
But my favorite is opener and tittle track "Shades Of Art", a pulsating rocker full of melody and a punchy rhythm crowned by stupendous harmony vocals. Sure, it's edgy, but structurally you can't deny this is a Melodic Hard Rock track.

More crushing vibes come from the deep grooves of "Carnivore" and the thick riffs of "Lady Don't Answer" and "The Song You Never Sang" reminding you Jorn. The 'powered' tracks are "Child Of Darkest Night" (great solo) and the furiously effective "Mab", both razor and kickin'.
Then Trail Of Murder shows their class in much more melodious numbers such as the brilliant "I Know Shadows". Singer Urban Breed keeps the flow going as if you need it to know how damn good of a vocalist this guy really is. Be prepared to be blown away with his performance here.
The guitar at the beginning of "Your Silence" starts off quietly, then gets heavier, and the track develops into a killer rocker ala Queensrÿche, when they used to rock good. Awesome song.
Another excellent hammer-rocker comes via "My Heart Still Cries". What a bombastic song carefully crafted inviting all of the musicians in this great project to meet their ownage of their respective instruments wisely.

I could spend all day commenting each track, as all are worth to mention. Trust me, there's no single filler in "Shades Of Art".
It's so darn refreshing what Trail of Murder has done here that it falls as one of the best metal / hard albums I've heard all year - if not the best.
Olsson and Åkerlind add a dynamic structure to each dominating riff and kick, the writing is solid & hooky, and with a powerhouse vocalist as Breed delivering so varied strong harmonies you have a winner of a CD. The production is top notch and the final mix was superb as the sound really explodes upon first listen.
"Shades Of Art" is recommended to any rocker out there, it doesn't matters if you prefer Melodic Metal, Hard Rock or Melodic Hard Rock, this album will blow you away.
Strongly Recommended.


01 - Shades Of Art
02 - Carnivore
03 - Lady Don't Answer
04 - Mab
05 - I Know Shadows
06 - Your Silence
07 - Higher
08 - The Song You Never Sang
09 - Nightmares I Stole
10 - Child Of Darkest Night
11 - Some Stand Alone
12 - My Heart Still Cries

Urban Breed: Lea & Harmony Vocals
Daniel Olsson: Guitars, Bass, Backing Vocals
Pelle Åkerlind: Drums, Bass, Backing Vocals
Hasse Eismar: Guitars, Backing Vocals
Johan Bergkvist: Bass, Backing Vocals


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