Cons: Horribly written lyrics... spoken word for the loss!
The Bottom Line: If you don't have Northern Lights, it's a much better introduction to Covenant. Covenant lifers should still pick this up for under $10.00.
search66's Full Review: Skyshaper [Bonus CD] by Covenant (Sweden)
Like many Covenant fans, I was immediately hooked on the 2002 release Northern Lights. Not only was it a brilliant album, it's easily in my all time Top 10 list of great albums.
Skyshaper is the first full-album release since 2002. They did do a few scattered remixes and compilations; but nothing to warrant a full album.
My first reaction to the album was of disappointment. I had such high expectations of this release that I truly wanted to be floored and moved as I was the first time listening to Northern Lights. To be brutally honest, I was so disappointed that I didn't listen to it until a week later.
During the next weeks commute, I popped it in to listen to a few of the catch tracks; but it still didn't grab me. However, soon enough Skyshaper began to grow on me and I became fonder of the 2006 release.
If you are like me, you've heard Ritual Noise about a thousand times; but it still ends up being one of the best tracks on the disk. There are a handful of good songs that are reminiscent of the old Covenant like, Pulse, 20Hz and The World is Growing Loud.
You'll also find yourself moving to some enigmatic songs like, The Men and Happy Man. Very catchy tunes, but lyrically is about as sound as a bulldozer.
Thank goodness for track skipping. Don't even try to listen to Sweet and Salty. It's some hybrid-spoken-word-rap-something. Rubbish! And although Greater Than the Sun has gotten some play time, I'm still not into the monotone ebm-rap thing.
So, was the album worth waiting four years for? Not a chance. Although Skyshaper has some great tracks, the horribly (and I mean horrible) written lyrics really drag the album down.
For a Covenant fan, you still should get it. Those just getting into the scene or the band; check out Northern Lights.
Oh... there's no place for a review for it, but the new Mesh album "We Collide"; is without a doubt the best album of the year... hands down.
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