Shallow

Shallow emerged from Stoke-on-Trent, England, in 1994 when ex-members of the defunct group Integrity assembled around drummer Rod Vyse. The initial configuration operated as a trio once bassist Phil Brough and guitarist-vocalist Tony Inskip joined, expanding to a quartet in 1996 with the arrival of second guitarist Danny Unnet, another former Integrity musician. The quartet quickly gained traction within Britain’s rising stoner-rock circuit, regularly sharing stages with Electric Wizard, Spirit Caravan, Nebula, Orange Goblin, and comparable acts. Their debut recording, the 1998 concert EP Live at Heimi Hendersons, drew the interest of Rise Above Records, which issued the band’s first studio album, 16 Sunsets in 24 Hours, in 2000. Although the LP received strong notices, its modest sales prompted the musicians to feel constrained by the stoner-rock tag; they therefore adopted the name the Last Drop, both to reach a wider audience and to sidestep legal threats from an American ensemble bearing a similar moniker. Under the new identity they released Where Were You Living One Year from Now? in 2002, yet commercial prospects remained unchanged and the group entered an extended hiatus.

Roughly two decades later, Shallow reconvened as a trio comprising Tony Inskip, Phil Brough, and Rod Vyse. After rebuilding their live presence they entered the studio with guitarist Ike Reed assisting on the sessions. The resulting 2021 album, From the Ground Down, appeared on Future Noise Recordings and revealed a leaner, more forceful instrumental character that mirrored the streamlined lineup. Blending the exploratory melodic thrust of alternative rock with the weighty, rumbling bass and guitar bravado of vintage heavy metal, the British band produces music sufficiently dense for metal listeners while drawing primary inspiration from 1970s hard rock and the robust wing of grunge. Their initial long-player, 16 Sunsets in 24 Hours, showcased robust alternative-driven workouts, whereas the reunion effort From the Ground Down retains that ethos but sharpens it with greater aggression and economy.