As Above, So Below is the bold concept album by Shadow of the Talisman, introducing us to The Dark One, who chooses to recruit and resurrect a broken man to transform him into a killing machine soon known as The Outlaw. This tragic devil’s plaything loses his reality like a dollar bill in a hurricane, and goes straight to a fiery Hell where a deal is made and the remains of his soul, shattered. When The Outlaw resurfaces on Earth as a gunslinging demon, he wreaks havoc in Westerntown, a metaphor for the civilized society this miscreant trashes and shreds. And even though he eventually has a change of heart, there is no future for him but to return to the Hell that forged him, where he is destined to annihilate The Dark One and become the new ruler of the underworld.

As Above, So Below is a gorgeous tornado of genres and mediums swirled into one of the greatest horror stories ever told through funky, break-oriented alternative metal featuring powerful vocals and intricate, raucous instrumentals. Lyrically, the global theme here is “we reap what we sow,” yet musically, the soul of this band is defined by “dynamics,” never linear, always striking and astonishing. Focus tracks include “The Outlaw,” a riff-oriented thrill ride filled with savage syncopation and an epic climax, as well as “What is Real?” featuring a heartrending traditional vocal and ultimately satisfying breaks and full-stops. The climax of the album is an experience in itself, constructed of four parts culminating with “So Below,” as hard-driving a metal song as one would find with an ending better than Seven or Us.

Shadow of the Talisman recorded their debut album, As Above, So Below, at Raydon Studio in Keego Harbor, MI, with the help of Mark Stewart, serving as co-producer and mix engineer, and the album cover art was created by Mark Erskine at Erskine Designs. Altogether, As Above, So Below is a masterpiece in terms of its content, concept, and musical execution. It is a glorious smorgasbord, made for everyone with a taste for the flavor of rock, brazen and bold, inclusive and eclectic, drawing all of us into the fold.