Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
Backdawn
Title
I Shall Burn Your Empire
Type
LP/EP
Company
Independent
YOR
2016
Style
Death
11/11/2016 - Review by: Greg Watson
Chock full of heavy, monstrous riffs
French extremists Backdawn unleash an all out assault on the senses with "I Shall Burn Your Empire". Chock full of heavy, monstrous riffs and agonized growls and pained screams, this album is a force from the jump. Plenty of melody in the guitars adds a nice balance of sound to the overall heavy feel. Tracks "Of Sand and Blood" and "The Path to Glory" throw in some really good clean vocals, with "Glory" having a huge riff that is the focal point of the song. Overall, the album is thoroughly enjoyable and one that I have listened to several times through already, finding new musical elements and vocals that I missed on previous listens. The variety of the vocals is also very dualistic and provides a solid back and forth between the clean and the death vocals. The guitar tones on this album are massive and the production is quite stellar, as it was handled by Annihilator's Jeff Walker, which explains the clarity and the focus on the guitar sound. This is one that will stay in my rotation a good deal going forward. Definitely take the time to give this one a spin!
  • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
    4 :AVE RATING

ALL REVIEWS FOR: BACKDAWN
TITLE
DOR
COMPANY
REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
I Shall Burn Your Empire
2016
Independent
Greg Watson11/11/2016
4

ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: BACKDAWN
INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


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