Birmingham-based SHVPES have already shared the stage alongside the likes of rock-heavyweights Bring Me the Horizon, Bullet For My Valentine, Fightstar and Finch, as well as playing at Download Festival and Slam Dunk. It’s a damn impressive CV and is all off the back of their EP ‘The Prosecutor’. However, after both signing to heavyweights Spinefarm Records and releasing their debut album ‘Pain. Joy. Ecstasy. Despair.’, SHVPES can definitely look forward to bigger and better things in their future.
From start to finish, this album will leave listeners wide-eyed and/or slack-jawed; it’s impressive and truly incredible. Frontman Griffin Dickinson spits some furious bars towards the end of single ‘State of Mine’, whilst gang vocals make ‘Skin & Bones’ a roaring success. ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ is packed with blistering riffs, whilst Griffin displays his impressive vocal range – he switches from strong, clean vocals to roaring screams with finesse and ease.
Title track ‘Pain. Joy. Ecstasy. Despair.’ is bold and dynamic, packed with thunderous drum work and gritty riffs that you can really sink your teeth into. ‘The Otherside’ is a massive adrenaline-rush, whilst ‘God Warrior’ flexes some dominant and impressive muscles in the form of aggressive riffs. Closing track ‘Tear Down the Walls’ finishes the album as it started – with a mighty and powerful punch of power.
In ‘Pain. Joy. Ecstasy. Despair.’, SHVPES have created a truly exhilarating and awe-inspiring debut album. It’s an incredibly exciting release from an incredibly exciting band – get ready to say hello to the next household name in rock.
JESS TAGLIANI