Shadow of Intent

Shadow of Intent formed in Connecticut in 2013 around guitarist Chris Wiseman and vocalist Ben Duerr. The band takes its name from a Covenant warship in the Halo games, and its early records leaned heavily on that series' lore, with albums such as Reclaimer built around interstellar war.

Later releases, including Melancholy and Elegy, moved toward darker, more personal subject matter. The sound kept its core: down-tuned technical riffing, Duerr's range from guttural lows to high shrieks, and orchestral arrangements that sit under the guitars instead of decorating them. The band has released much of its music independently.