From going on his first ever tour to releasing an assortment of different singles along with a full length project last year, shinigami had a formidable 2018. As immense and as successful a year can get, the 19-year-old is only preparing to gleam into stardom.
While shinigami has his eyes set on the future, he had finalized his momentous twelve-month run with his much anticipated follow up to I Will Never Be A Memory. Entitled Grimworld, shinigami thoughtfully executed the final moments of his year with what is perhaps his most cohesive body of work to date.
Opening track “Skyfall” jumps right into the fusion of electro-meets-alternative-trap that shinigami has carefully constructed throughout the first tracks on the album. Singing aloud in perhaps his highest tenor to date, he discusses his foot-forward thinking separating himself from many artists today with his coinciding opening lines.
It’s a shame how // You’re a slave // To the paper in your pocket // You can’t take it to your grave
shinigami goes on to discuss how he is alone on his own path, free from any of the chains that imprison artists to things as simple as monetary gain.
While “Obnoxious” picks up the same sonic tone as “Skyfall,” “As Long As We Remember Each Other, We’ll Never Be Apart” is what ultimately propels shinigami’s electro-trap elegance forward.
With multiple catchy melodies and uncanny pop-like choruses ever present on Grimworld, “As Long As We Remember Each Other, We’ll Never Be Apart” perhaps has the most evident. Beginning the song with a interpolation of the classic “Better Off Alone” EDM melody, the album’s lead single is an instant fast-tempo hit. shinigami becomes the most vulnerable to listeners while discussing his past lovers, he levitates away from the current trend of cringey lyrics of obsession. He instead performs in a confident yet affectionate tone.
Can you feel me // I’ll be in your dreams when you’re asleep tonight // I didn’t even wanna say goodbye // I know tears keep falling out of those green eyes // We both know it’s not the right time
As the fourth track “Silent Voices” rolls in, shinigami leaves his experimental genre-splicing behind and opts instead to go forth with alternative guitar-driven instrumentals. Featuring From First to Last, “Veins” shifts the albums sonically and is easily one of the most memorable songs on the album.
As the lone featured guests on Grimworld, post-hardcore icons From First To Last contribute a solid amount of guitar work and drum fills that will surely bring back those to a time where emo was omnipresent. While From First To Last shine, shinigami steals the show with his dynamic vocal ranges going from solemn runs to full out screaming.
Lyrically, shinigami has progressively shown throughout his career that he has yet to take even half a step back and “Runaway” defines his ability of never missing a beat. As “Runaway” closes the album, shinigami favors a solo piano composition to dual underneath his pristine and crisp vocals. Reigniting the theme of solitary persistently present on Grimworld, shinigami sings about how he has been stuck in a relationship that was destined to end.
You keep on running away // Don’t know what you can say to me // It makes me feel like I’m the one // Who’s been stuck in the rain // I’ve been drowning in pain you see // Feels like I’m choking on these words I can’t say to you
As shinigami has progressed throughout his career, it is evident that the young artist is only beginning to fully bloom into a multi-faceted artist. When asked about Grimworld, shinigami told Underground Underdogs, “It’s the start of the next plot arc.” From his persistent changing of genres to his overall credibility as an artist with growing song structures and lyrical abilities, Grimworld demonstrates that shinigami is truly poised for something greater.