In early October last year, the Finnish death/war metal band Shrapnel Storm released their third studio album Silo via the French label Great Dane Records, presenting yet another work focused on the theme of war. Even in the 21st century, this topic remains highly relevant, and it’s no wonder that so many bands reflect the military vibes in their music.
Like most Scandinavian metal bands, Shrapnel Storm can’t resist weaving in melody, even though they lean toward the raw, primitive death metal sound of the early ’90s, when this young genre was gaining momentum. Of course, there are exceptions, but often even the most brutal and primitive bands from this region add a touch of melody to enhance their music, and Shrapnel Storm is no exception. One track might hint at MDM influences, while another evokes melancholy through the melodies themselves. This is a typical Scandinavian trait – finding a sense of harmony even within the heaviest and grimiest music, suggesting that even in darkness the ray of hope remains.
The album opens with a foreboding tone with the title track “Silo”, blending the sounds of war and piercing sirens with a primitive death metal rhythm. While the band’s style leans heavily on raw, groovy death ‘n’ roll, several tracks touch on the melodic death metal of the Gothenburg school. “Justice and Glory” is the album’s most melodic piece, even hinting at Eastern motifs, while “Bring me the War” is the noisiest track; and “Alive Ammunition” stands out as the most atmospheric. The punk rock inspired “Icon of Destruction” is relatively light and straightforward, while “Kinslayer” brings heavier death metal tones but retains catchy melodic elements. Most of the album moves at a medium tempo, marked by a deliberate monotony and a pertinent primitivism.
While the production isn’t dirty, the sound radiates a brutal and unpolished quality. This isn’t a refined death/war metal album, but rather one that embodies brutal, no-frills intensity without softening the atmosphere. Compositional structures stick to a traditional formula, typically featuring two or three riffs per song, characteristic slowdowns, monotony, thrash passages, and an absence of chaotic elements. The approach is strict and uncompromising – no experiments, no dabbling in trendy genres, and no unpredictable twists, keeping true to the genre’s classic roots.
The album is named Silo, a term not commonly used in everyday language but one that is certainly linked to the military world which fits perfectly with the band’s war-themed mindset. In this context, “silo” refers to an underground chamber where a guided missile is kept ready for launch, and the album’s cover art echoes this idea. True to their nature, the Finnish band Shrapnel Storm erupts from their underground scene with the explosive power of their war anthem-style music. Ruthless and straightforward, unwilling to experiment, they continue to storm the death metal scene with unrelenting force. Their music isn’t about comfort zones – it’s about constant battles, where everyone is equal, and the blood of the enemy is as sweet as that of a hero. This album, a 40-minute military soundtrack, delivers exactly what fans of Shrapnel Storm expect – pure, unhampered aggression and ferocious intensity.
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