Shadowhouse

***Portland post-punk act SHADOWHOUSE unleashes a hauntingly introspective and deeply reflective musical soundtrack: their second LP, Forsaken Forgotten. Shadowhouse blends dark alternative music and elements of goth and darkwave with spellbinding percussion, brooding bass, atmospheric guitar, and chilling synths. This album is a testament to perseverance: Shadowhouse saw multiple personnel overturns over the four years it took to create the album, which was created in five different studios. At the core lie SHANE MCCAULEY's poetic lyrics, which conjure up images of loss, longing, and childhood. McCauley’s distinctive vocals, reminiscent of Crispy Ambulance’s Alan Hampsall, and the band’s overall sound hearkens back to the Factory label sound of yore; we hear some whispers of The Damned, but overall Shadowhouse is decidedly modern. Forsaken Forgotten displays some new dark wave twists, expansive vocals, and icy guitars that swell with forlorn emotion.