Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Shokran - Duat (2024)

After checking out Shokran's debut album Supreme Truth, I felt like skipping ahead 10 years into their new album Duat. It's time to find out how this album by Egyptian-themed Russian djenty progressive metalcore stands as a contender for the Revolution Gallery Awards for 2024...

Like many other bands I've listened to, Shokran has a blend of heaviness and melody that I can easily appreciate. Mesmerizing melodies are in great interplay with djenty heaviness. Dmitry Demyanenko is a true master of that guitarwork. The impact is enhanced by the clear production, giving the riffing more power. The vocals by returning member Sergey Raev can please any modern metalhead with his vocal antics.

"Khonsu: The Traveler from Thebes" has his cool vocals in best display. While his harsh vocals rule, I also love his cleans. The song itself is definitely worth repeat listens. Including some f***ing killer soloing! Another amazing album standout is "Set: The Shark in the Womb" with killer heaviness. There are some lower growls in "Thoth: The Silent Witness". Then "Amon-Ra: The Battle for Tomorrow" really battles it out as you can hear some bits of Born of Osiris and Wage War, mostly the former having left a deep influential mark for this band.

"Maat: The Feather Against the Heart" is another absolute favorite with lots of heaviness and variation. We also have the catchy clean chorus in "Horus: The Never Changing War". Then "Osiris: Your Death Is Just a Beginning" balances the Born of Osiris influences with Tesseract. "Isis: Caught in the Knot" is just filled with awesome fire.

"Anubis: Can’t Escape the Hound" is almost like a djenty take on the metalcore/post-hardcore of The Word Alive and Escape the Fate. The vocals reach great heights in the climax of "Tefnut: The Greatest Drought". The modern power in the melody can almost compete with Bad Omens. It stands out with its catchy chorus and more of those Egyptian vibes. I can almost give "Hathor: Drunken With Blood" the ultra-heavy crown. But it's the crushing "Imhotep: The Falcon of Gold" that takes the throne.

Duat shall never disappoint for the most part. All these strong riffs and leads make an essential part of this modern metalcore album. Just brush aside the barely-there variety and you can go on a metal carpet ride....

Favorites: "Khonsu: The Traveler from Thebes", "Set: The Shark in the Womb", "Maat: The Feather Against the Heart", "Isis: Caught in the Knot", "Tefnut: The Greatest Drought", "Imhotep: The Falcon of Gold"