Hailing from Larissa, Greece, The Shadeless Emperor is a five-piece Epic/Melodic Death Metal band that blends the ferocity of death metal with soaring melodies, woodwinds and folk textures. Inspired by fantasy, literature, mythology and philosophy, the band sets out to tell stories, myths and legends through the extremities of metal.
Origins
The band was officially formed in early 2010, but a series of unfortunate circumstances kept it silent for almost two years. In late 2012 they finally entered the studio to record their first demo, “Homeland”, which was self-released in January 2013. In 2015, to celebrate their fifth anniversary, they released an 8-bit rendition of the demo, an early sign of the band’s playful creative streak.
Ashbled Shores
With the line-up finally complete, the band began recording their debut album, “Ashbled Shores”, at Fabric Studios in Larissa in August 2015. While the album was taking shape, they released “Sullen Guard” as a single with an accompanying lyric video in June 2016.
The album was mixed at Anirok Studios in Kefalonia by the band’s bassist, Filippos Salapatas, and mastered in Athens by Steve Lado, guitarist of Tardive Dyskinesia. After signing a worldwide distribution deal with WormHoleDeath, “Ashbled Shores” was released digitally on August 1, 2017. CD editions followed in Europe, the USA and Japan. The release was accompanied by an official music video for “A Few Rotten Words” and a lyric video for “Too Far Gone”, and the band celebrated it with a release show in their hometown of Larissa.
The album was well received by the international metal press. Reviewers praised its guitar-driven melodies, the folk-tinged woodwinds and acoustic passages, and its dark Hellenic atmosphere. They drew comparisons to vintage Dark Tranquillity, In Flames and Arch Enemy, and even to their countrymen Rotting Christ.
Whitethorn
On December 6, 2019, The Shadeless Emperor returned with “Whitethorn”, a standalone single released together with an official music video. Mixed and mastered by Jari Lindholm, the song tells the story of a father wandering through years torn by the war for the Woven Throne. In a misty glade he witnesses ghosts singing a dying wolf mother to her eternal rest. With its darker, more atmospheric sound, “Whitethorn” marks the next chapter in the band’s storytelling.
On Stage
Over the years The Shadeless Emperor has shared the stage across Greece with bands such as Rotting Christ, Wolfheart and Jinjer.
