Shane Lents' new album, 'Inhumanity's Black Flame: Act I – 1941: The Isolation Begins', isn't for the faint of heart. The first part in what he calls a "five-act Holocaust metal opera," the album is a harrowing and immersive journey into the pain, fear, and loss of 1941, the year that saw the initial persecution and isolation of Jewish people in Europe. It’s a bold and incredibly ambitious project, and Shane tackles it with a level of raw, emotional intensity that makes for a truly powerful listening experience.
Through sixteen compositions that culminate in a near 30-minute instrumental epic, ‘The Isolation Begins’ carves out a dark, cinematic journey. Shane seamlessly blends symphonic metal, progressive rock, and orchestral arrangements to create a soundscape that is both beautiful and terrifying, capturing a timeless pain that has scarred the world. The clashing of strings with electric guitars creates a persistent sense of unease, while stark atmospherics and progressive soundscapes effectively pull you into the horrors of the era.
Tracks like ‘Whispers of Fear’ and ‘Dehumanization’ are shine, capturing feelings of loss and helplessness with lingering guitar chords that transform into haunting melodies. Meanwhile, songs such as ‘Marked’, ‘Nightfall of Long Knives’, and ‘Confiscation’ help showcase Shane’s orchestral metal talents, crying out with a sense of desperation and anguish that is impossible to deny.
While the majority of the album relies on Shane’s compositions to convey its devastating story, the additional of operatic vocals add a crucial layer of humanity. Beginning with the symphonic tones of ‘Ghetto Walls’, the vocals perfectly complement the music, adding weight and heart to every narrative.
The vocal arrangements are particularly effective on ‘Lost Voices’ and ‘The First Deportations’, providing a striking contrast to the instrumental tracks and reminding the listener of the human tragedy at the core of the album. This effect is amplified further in ‘The Point of No Return’, where the powerful and driving vocals help bring the first act of this monumental work to a chilling climax. It’s a fierce and undeniable final stroke on the album, setting the stage not only for Act II, but also for the final instrumental suite that solidifies the project's epic scope
‘The Isolation Begins’ is a heavy listen, both musically and emotionally, but it’s a vital one—a testament to Lents’ courage as a composer and his unwavering commitment to using music to confront and remember the darkest moments of history.
For more from Shane and his unfolding metal opera, be sure to stay up to date on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music.
