The Shadow Principle

The Shadow Principle is a modern rock band from Los Angeles blending elements of progressive rock, hard rock, punk, and post-punk. The band released its second album, “Oblivion,” on July 25, 2016; its debut album, “Golden State,” came out in 2012. The Shadow Principle’s music combines big hooks, unique song structures, skilled musicianship, and thoughtful lyrics in a high-energy package tailor-made for its explosive live performances.

While at its core The Shadow Principle is a rock band in the classic mold of Led Zeppelin and the Who, the band regularly calls upon a wide range of diverse influences, making its precise genre difficult to pin down. A prog-inspired instrumental passage reminiscent of Rush, King Crimson, Opeth, or Porcupine Tree might give way to an anthemic chorus recalling Soundgarden, Dredg, Queen, or David Bowie. Elsewhere, a bass line evoking post-punk bands like Bauhaus, Love and Rockets, and Magazine might be coupled with a guitar part comparable to Queens of the Stone Age and a vocal recalling Jeff Buckley. At times sounding like a heavy version of Interpol, and at others like a post-punk Black Sabbath, The Shadow Principle relish the opportunity to embrace unconventional approaches, and to test the elasticity of rock music.

The band consists of Kurt Berens on drums, Reza Moosavi on guitar, Nohl Takahashi on vocals, and Dave Tomkins on bass and backing vocals. All four of the band’s seasoned musicians bring a wealth of experience to the table, and share a unified passion for and belief in the importance and relevance of well-crafted, skillfully-played rock music amid the boundless mass of hipster folk-rock and here-today, gone-tomorrow pop schmaltz currently dominating popular music.

Committed to making expressive, dynamic rock music for music lovers everywhere, The Shadow Principle plan to spend the next 12-15 months promoting “Oblivion,” and playing live as often as possible, wherever possible. No doubt the band will introduce new material into its set along the way, with an eye toward mounting another recording project in late 2017, early 2018.