Album Review: Shihad - FVEY

Jon Toogood, the ever-reliable frontman for Shihad, must have been wrapped up in a bad news day when he penned most of FVEY. The Melbourne-via-Wellington alt-rock stalwarts return with album number nine, and while it’s chock full of industrial grind and bittersweet anthems, as well as a mature, considered step away from their much-loved early turn-of-the-century output, the bleak soundscape is unrelenting and tends to eventually wash over like the onslaught of a bad news day itself. But, maybe that’s the idea.

Having said that, there’s plenty of enveloping, dystopian bliss to lose yourself in. Opener Think You’re So Free kicks things off with a good solid steelcap, clean guitar chugs and an inhibited kit that soon crashes into life, amplifying the anarchic spirit. It’s a sentiment repeatedly echoed throughout, but the title track springs into more pomp, and The Big Lie brooks some of the emotional overflow with clipped riffing, which allows a bit more breathing space between it and the album’s second half. The many shades of black continue unabated though, with just Loves Long Shadow bringing back some Primus-like bass pomp. The bleak outlook and cold tone means Trent Reznor comparisons are likely, so hey, that’s always fun right?

The harsh sound matches the harsh sentiments Toogood seems hell-bent on venting, but it’s very often at the mercy of an album that could have easily benefited from a few rays of light to stab through the murk, if only to break up the chunks of grind.