From the sleepy burg of Indianapolis (i'm assuming it is, Dave Letterman always bags it out on his show) comes an thrilling debut demo album (full-length demo, whatever floats your boat) written, performed and produced by one immensely talented individual, Mr. Dave Cardwell. Mr. Cardwell's success is and will be attributed to his ear for rousing melody and penmanship for thumping rhythms that metalheads crave.
The opener Fight Ourselves is a knockabout thrasher, taking cues from the raucous Metallica of old, fusing together Accept style speed and melody with a strong sing-a-long gang chorus. Excellent. The muscular Play With Fire, laden with some interesting imagery is straightfoward balls to the wall Euro-styled power metal with a strong bass line that Mr. Dave Ellefson would nod his head to. The instrumental section is chock-full of wizardry and as for the chorus - one of the best I've heard in such a long time! The forcefully belted "You want to play with me...Play with fire!" is so simple yet so addictive, nine times out of ten it prevents the next track from being played...at all. Brilliant. Not to say that isn't bad either, Born a Liar is drenched in the spirit of early Megadeth (He does share a first name with Mr. Mustaine after all!) and a hint of the flashier side of British New Wave, captivating from start to finish. Phenomenal. He references old school Kreator and Iron Maiden in Life Run Cold, still maintaining that fervor for vivid songwriting.
Apart from Mr. Cardwell's obvious talents in songwriting and musicianship his vocals are also of great note, since he can jump into a bear suit and growl like a grizzly then into smooth and unhindered clean vocals with a quite impressive range all showcased on Dream. Mr. Cardwell hits the high registers with ease while thrashing out some Helloweenish rhythms and solos. The rest of the album is unfettered in it's creativity and passion for making the old new again, like the L.A. hard rock style Gods, cheeky yet melancholy at the same time - impossible to conceptualize but pulled off with finesse by Mr. Cardwell. Fortunately, the rest of the album remains on a similar inimitable course of excellence with some aggressive Pantera shining through in Darkness and what would have been the song if Dave Mustaine stayed with Metallica in Deathwish; and it's all rollicking and fun to boot!
This is a one-man powerhouse that isn't signed to a major label, and as such has worked within the limitations of self-reliance and has done exceptionally well. The production is of a demo quality but it doesn't interfere too much with the sonic gems found on this disc, allowing the songwriting to speak for itself. What's also so unbelievable is that he composed and played the bass, rhythm/harmony guitars and programmed the drums as well as effects and keyboards without denigrating into self-indulgence, yielding to ouevres of filler to pad up the disc or the all important "staying true" to genre repetitions. He transcends the traditional scope of traditional metal proving it's still a style that with the right fixtures of creativity to it's creaky frame can shine like new again in the 21st century. If you like the old school styles, then Raise the Shield is for you. (Even if it isn't, you should still give it a few spins!) Mr. Cardwell has produced an consistently outstanding album on debut. Hopefully, I suspect with a proper touring band and slicker production they'll light up smiles on major labels' faces. Well done!
Rating: 8.9 / 10
Standout tracks: All!
11/26/2006 Eyeless Sentry
Thanks to Stefan from METAL TO INFINITY
Raise The Shield exist from one person who takes all instruments at its own expense, thus we had to deal here with a one-man Metal band originating in Indianapolis, Indiana. I always had an enormous appreciation for people who try or dare a venture like this. Not to underestimate duty that asks a lot of inspiration and courage to complete everything to a successfully result. Name of the person who has personally set Raise The Shield op calls Dave Cardwell.
He started early 2006 and the album I have concerning here is already its second effort. Raise The Shield released a debut EP entitled "Shocked Awake" in September. Only two months later, a second one "Play With Fire" saw daylight in all its glory. Dave has been charged with interesting ideas and musical skills to the extreme. His voice sounds as a junction between James Hetfield and Dave Mustaine, yes he does! Advancement of the guitar lines are outstanding. Both lead and solo works be of a very good quality and sound definitely worthy and professionally aimed.
What left are something to tell regarding drum and synth programming which bothers me from time to time. Especially a programmed drum computer is a true torture for my own personal ears. I know, you cannot complete a decent Metal album without drum poundings which leads to circumstances you have to work with a programmed drum cancel the entire operation. But believe me, that is the only argument I have some negatively thoughts of. About the rest of Raise The Shield, no reason to complain.
Style can be discribed as a blend of Power and Thrash Metal. To manage an album like "Play With Fire" you need especially much insight and you must have a high quality musical skill in your veins. Well, Dave Cardwell has it all and that is certainly and permanently not exaggerate. 8 precious songs of steel standing strongfully on this CD with each their own character better to define as Melodic Power Metal with a serious dose of quality Thrash Metal, old school reminiscent.
Some are afraid about the result of a one-man Metal band...in this case, gat rid of that thought and give Raise The Shield a try. If you admire Thrash / Power Metal, you immediately will understand what I mean. Certainly worth to check it out at: www.myspace.com/raisetheshield MY POINTS: 85 / 100
Raise the Shield
Play With Fire Independent
by Matthew Hoffman
Staff Writer
Comments: After releasing a strong debut EP Shocked Awake earlier this year to solid reviews, Raise the Shield is back with their first full length offering Play with Fire. This Indianapolis, In. based band is a dead ringer for the aggressive early '80s Bay Area metal sound of Metallica and then later Megadeth and Testament. Their sound is prolific and powerful, doing everything bigger and wilder for the hell of it. But with the huge sound there is still clean inspired technical guitar precise drums and killer melodies.
The singer sounds almost exactly like James Hetfield on several tracks on this disc. That is both a good and a bad thing. It is positive in that Hetfield used to be one of the best voices in metal, but negative in the commercial sellout gayness that his band has become. Let's only hope that Raise the Shield has a chance someday to choose between good and evil, honor or selling out. As for the music, it is hard charging guitar rhythms and really nice leads and solos dispersed throughout the record.
The songwriting and vocal execution though are a little redundant and slightly unpolished at times. But for a new band, what can you expect; certainly not perfection. And when the vocals and songs are running a little slow and cold the guitar work comes in to save the day. Isn't that the formula many of the bands of the '80s used to well? No one remembers rhythm guitarist, drummers or bass player's names the way they remember the lead axe men 20 to 30 years later. Skolnick, Freidman, Becker, Vai, Hammett, DeGarmo, King, Tipton, Campbell, Rhoads, the list could go on forever.
In that light if you are going to form a speed/thrash metal outfit you better have a guy that can really bring the mail. Raise the Shield seems to have that category covered with Dave Cardwell. But the interesting thing here is that every single instrument was performed by Cardwell also! Yes you read that correctly, in fact the MySpace site had the message that the band was looking for members to play the other instruments. So in the context of learning that one man created this album, it certainly makes it even more intriguing. Pick up a copy of this cool ass thrash metal disc and see for yourself.
www.myspace.com/raisetheshield
Band Members:
Dave Cardwell-All Instruments
Track Listing:
1. Fight Ourselves
2. Play With Fire
3. Born A Liar
4. Life Run Cold
5. Dream
6. Gods
7. Darkness
8. Deathwish
HRH Rating: 8.1/10
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