Shade - Under Distant Suns (EP Review)

Release Date: February 14th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Under Distant Suns - Track Listing:

1.Ashes 03:16

2.Reach 03:49

3.Quicksand 04:53

4.Too Soon 05:34

5.Reef 06:20

Members

Ahmed Ben Ayed - Guitar

Wahid Walter Rehouma - Bass

Mehdi Beltaief - Vocals

Aziz El Ghoul - Drums/Vocals

Mehdi Haouet - Guitar/Vocals

Review

Under Distant Suns is the debut EP from Tunisian Desert/Stoner Rockers Shade and is quite an explosive record with the band demonstrating a wide range of sounds from the Stoner scene. Moving from normal instrumental passages to a heavier metallic approach with a scorched Desert theme which transforms into classic Grunge movements. The melodies are superb with a “GROOVE” based focus which draws upon bands such as KYUSS and ALICE IN CHAINS in places.

I haven’t had much exposure to the North African underground scene but Shade sounds like a Californian Desert/Stoner Rock band with the music they have written for Under DIstant Suns. Though, there’s enough Tunisian flavour for Shade to add their own creative identity into their music especially with the Psychedelic parts of the EP.

With a harsh Desert/Fuzz Rock soundscape becoming quite Space Rock orientated throughout the EP especially on tracks such as Ashes and Reach. The music does have quite a “THUGGISH” and “METALLIC” appeal which allows Shade to move between the cracks of the “ROCK” and “METAL” scenes their music ultimately delivers.

The band has three vocalists in their ranks with Mehdi Beltaief being the main vocalist where he shows a “GRUNGE” influence to his vocals. He’s joined by Aziz El Ghoul (Drums) and Mehdi Haouet (Vocals) on different parts of the EP who all provide excellent support when called upon. This is where the band feel influenced by the likes of Planet Of Zeus and CLUTCH as the EP becomes dominated by a Blues Rock theme on tracks such as Quicksand.

The final two tracks Too Soon and Reef explores the sounds heard on the earlier stages of the EP with certain Post-Stoner melodies showing another different side to Shade. This allows Shade to end Under Distant Sun superbly well. With superb production values throughout the EP. I’m hoping there’s a lot more great Stoner Rock/Metal bands to discover from the North African scene. As Shade have delivered the goods with Under Distant Suns.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

You can read more about this band with their recent Introduce Yourselves article which the band kindly submitted.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

https://www.instagram.com/shade.band.off/
https://weareshade.bandcmp.com/album/under-distant-suns
https://www.facebook.com/weareshade