The New Shining - Hedges Against the Night

The New Shining are a three-piece band from Rotterdam, Netherlands. Formed in the summer of 2006, they consist of Nax (vocals and guitar), Vince (drums) and R (bass and backing vocals). Their first album, Supernatural Showdown was released in 2008 and carried some fantastic rock songs, helped along by a maudlin cover of the Nine Inch Nails' Hurt. They've been touring almost constantly since it's release, mainly supporting fellow Dutch rockers Golden Earring. "Hedges against the Night" is their follow up album to Supernatural Showdown, and a spiffing piece of work it is too with the evocative title borrowed from a line in the Stephen King book, Duma.

Kicking off with the 1st single, "Shadowcast", "Hedges..." grabs you by the jugular and refuses to let go until the last chord has died on the final track. Addictive melodies are melded with antagonistic riffs throughout the album with only the occasional breather offered via the reflective "Here's to Nothing" and the frustrated melancholy of "This Close to Heaven".

Despite the raw (and sometimes stereotypical) lyrics, producer Erwin Musper has taken the New Shining's set and given them a cleansing steam clean, thankfully avoiding the burdensome sound of over-production that can afflict rock albums such as this. And despite the aforementioned lack of originality in some of the lyrics (which a group this talented should easily improve upon over time), the passion behind the vocals and music is evident from the off. The rumbunctious "No Exit" evinces a love of 80's rock a la The Cult or Queen, whilst single "Shadowcast" betrays a love of another legendary rock group, The Foo Fighters. Although only boasting 10 tracks, "Hedges Against the Night" easily proves that saying that may have featured elsewhere: All Killer, No Filler!

These guys may be about to get really big. Remember, you heard it here first.

Hedges Against The Night (and Supernatural Showdown) are available to buy via the band's website along with other merchandise: www.thenewshining.com - although it is unfortunately not available on Itunes UK yet.

Finally, if you want a little taster:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au1vTC_UoZU&feature=player_embedded