Howdy. It’s been a while, and I’m sure y’all are wondering where the hell I’ve been, besides threatening to kick people’s shins in the comment section for terribly misbehaving. Between lateral moves at work with wildly varied results, the world going up in literal flames, and finding out the hard way that your heroes are well and truly (and in some cases, deservedly) disposable,¹ 2026 can eat my entire asshole and beg for seconds, thirds, and fourths. It’s been difficult trying to find time to just breathe, let alone listen to music and write about it. Thankfully, one of my favorite discoveries since writing here have a new album coming out, and Shores of Null once again supplied a fantastic collection of songs for us to talk about today.

Shores of Null aren’t afraid of tackling concepts for full-length albums, as 2020’s incredible one-song full-length Beyond the Shores – Of Death and Dying masterfully displayed. On this go-round, the Italians confront the meaning of the album title, whether it’s the yearning, heartache, and desperate need to cling to the memories of home (or the craving for something similar in vibe), or the need to avoid the toxicity, pain, and repercussions of an unhappy upbringing on the polar opposite side of homesickness. No matter which side of that word you fall on, pretty much everyone can relate to the loss of a favorite hangout, a home no longer in existence, or even a home that was never truly there. It’s a powerful, oftentimes cathartic exploration, and one that everyone confronts at one point in their lives.

And by and large, Shores of Null tackled the themes with grace and the proper level of care and attention. From the opening seconds of “Allies Before Defeat,” with its melancholy melodies and riffs and Davide Straccione’s dulcet croons and choruses, it’s immediately apparent that Shores of Null navigates the weight of lamenting a lost landmark or home with ease. “Bleed to Life” sees Straccione utilizing his growls a lot more than in the past, which is a welcome dichotomy that I’d love to see the band explore a bit more, as he possesses an incredible singing and growling voice that complements whatever’s happening musically.² The rest of the band aren’t slouches, either, as between the Paradise Lost-like riffs and fantastic drumming from Emiliano Cantiano, they set a wonderful backdrop for Straccione to deliver impressive vocal lines.

Things do take a little bit of a dip from midpoint “Dreaming of a Scar”³ onward, but even then it’s only in comparison to how strong the album’s front half is. Other than some worrying vocal strain and pitchiness by Straccione during the choruses on penultimate track “Another Breath,” this is Shores of Null knowing their comfort zones, where their strengths are, and how to best deliver their message. I’m all for experimentation, don’t get me wrong, but there’s nothing wrong with going with what you know, especially when what you know has worked quite well for yourself this far. I’d rather have a collection of strong songs with powerful writing than a grab-bag of ideas that don’t mesh or gel well.

And Homesick is yet another worthwhile feather in Shores of Null’s cap. With Amorphis, Paradise Lost, and Insomnium rightfully planting themselves as forefathers of death/doom, it would be criminal to not include Shores of Null in the mix, as their output has been largely extraordinary since inception. Hopefully, with Homesick, we’ll see big things for these guys, as they’ve been killing it so far with their output. Either way, it’s most certainly a worthy addition to your collection, and one that might help you take your mind off of everything, even if it’s only for 45 minutes.

Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Dusktone
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook
Releases Worldwide: October 16th, 2026

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