Shide
A Shadow's Dilemma

Shide ... and watch how I perform Nu Prog Metal ...

For an album to be a good one, it must primarily be personal. If people like it, it means you're conveying emotions. It's important to perceive the effort put into making it.
When I got my hands on this self-produced album, I realized that time and effort had already been spent on the graphic design. I also knew I was about to listen to prog, so I had a general idea of what I was about to taste, and instead ... surprise.
What you find yourself listening to if you're an expert in Metal, progressive, nu-metal is something you've already savored ... but allow me to say that the cooks who put together these delicacies made of ingredients you undoubtedly know have created something that, prepared this way, is a thrill ... a pleasure for our brain.
If, on the other hand, you're not familiar with these genres, I can only suggest the following words.

Shide has been in the field for six years, and in 2004, after a demo and a single, they come out with A Shadow’s Dilemma, which is also the name of the first track, a galloping intro to the second song "Unstable Reality" (6.30), mysterious and decisive with high peaks of the two voices, Renata Morizio and Jay Pepe, who alternate and blend, touching the deep and caressing paradise. Here, Stefano Giungato's guitar solo does not surprise the experienced listener, while, in fusion with the other members, it is a truly pleasant sound; Antonio Valerio's work on keyboards is appreciable.
The third song is "The Scarecrow" (6.55), perhaps in my opinion the best track of the album, Danilo Bragazzi's double bass drum echoes the spirit, the rhythm is often a continuous variation of tempos with jazz flashes and hints of death metal.
Followed by "Shadows and Dust" (4.32), a poetic ballad and a 54 instrumental piece that flows quickly, decisively, and is also enriched by splendid genre variations.
The sixth piece is "Baltic Eyes" (5.32), where Renata's voice dominates along with Donato Casale's excellent bass.
It continues with a suite divided into three parts, which is "Storm" (12.34), with a warm and atmospheric first part, and when it moves to the body of the song, Stefano makes you dream, recalling Petrucci in "A Change Of Seasons." The third part again showcases the skill of all the members, leaving the seasoned listener fully satisfied and eager for another listen.

The album closes with "Enigma" (?) an elaborate gem rich in sentiment.
Nothing more to say, just that it is a very pleasant work that leads us to an Italian prog reality truly not to be underestimated.