Behind The Black Veil 2010

"With Psychotic Waltz vocalist Devon Graves (aka Buddy Lackey) on vocals, The Shadow Theory delivers progressive metal of the darker sort, which definitely is complex but not overly technical.

The album has been injected with a healthy dose of dark psychedelia and a good dose of King Diamond-inspiration. And then there's also a bit of flute every now and then, and some vocal melodies sound a little along the lines of Jethro Tull.

The album is characterized by alternation between heavy passages and more melodic and melancholic sections, and there are several symphonic moments as well. "Selebrate" is worth mentioning because it is the most different song on the album and sounds like something might have appeared on a Jethro Tull album. "A Candle in the Gallery" is also different because this is more of and ambient and easily accessible track. Apart from these two tracks, the style of the album is focused and consistent, which I really like.

I think "Behind the Black Veil" is a very well made record, which I think will appeal to fans of Psychotic Waltz, King Diamond and progressive metal in general.

(review originally posted at metalmusicarchives.com)"