Artist: Shackles
Country: Australia
Label: Hells Headbangers Records
Formats: LP / CD
Year: 2009
After releasing two demos (one being re-released on CD on Kneel Before The Masters Throne) and a 7” EP these Australians were ready for their first full-length album. Released on regular LP and on die-hard edition (a picture disc, limited to 100 copies). With their “Coup De Grace”-demo being one of my favourite from the last years I was eager to listen to this full-length. But, I can’t deny that it actually is a bit disappointing…
The music on “Traitor’s Gate” never gets to the level of the songs on “Coup De Grace”, it is less catchy and the riffs less memorable. It is not that I dare to say it is total shit but it really is a disappointing release. “Traitor’s Gate” lacks the power, the riffs and that special spark that the first outings had. This album is being promoted as ‘HOBBS’ PLAYED VIRGIN METAL, SHACKLES PLAY SLUT METAL’. After reading my comments it might not surprise that I think this is not quite a comparison. Shackles’ black/thrash just lost its punk/rock ‘n’ roll own touch that made them so great in the first place. Of course, it is not all misery on this record, there are some surprising parts as well. Let’s take the acoustic passages in several songs for instance.
Their first outputs might’ve been too good for them to top or they just went a different way. Whatever it might be, this is not the record to spend money on. If you are looking for some good Australian metal, keep an eye on Assaulter (Iron Bonehead) Trench Hell (Hell’s Headbangers) or even just good old Sadistik Exekution (a vinylbox is coming up through Kneel Before The Masters Throne!).
