{{Short description|Death metal band}} {{Unreliable sources|date=December 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Shadow Puncher | image = | alias = | caption = | origin = Trondheim, Norway | genre = {{flatlist| *Brutal death metal *death metal *Christian metal *groove metal *extreme metal *unblack metal }} | years_active = 2016–present | label = Independent, Nosral Recordings | website = {{Facebook|shadowpuncher}} | current_members = Max Kevin Ølstøren | past_members = }}

'''Shadow Puncher''' is a death metal project that began in 2016 as a solo project of Max Kevin Ølstøren. The band began as a death metal/black metal project out of Trondheim, Norway, releasing demos with hand-drawn art.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/shadowpuncher|title=Shadow Puncher|website=SoundCloud|accessdate=21 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://macebeard.doodlekit.com/blog/entry/4253674/news-shadow-puncher-album-in-final-processes|title=News: Shadow Puncher Album in Final Processes|website=The Bearded Dragon Productions|first=Mace|last=Beard|date=29 September 2018|accessdate=21 September 2018}}</ref> The band was signed to Nosral Recordings.<ref name="IVM">{{cite web|url=https://www.indievisionmusic.com/news/shadow-puncher-signs-nosral-recordings/|title=Shadow Puncher Signs to Nosral Recordings|website=Indie Vision Music|first=Mason|last=Beard|date=13 October 2017|accessdate=21 September 2018}}</ref>

== History == Shadow Puncher began in 2016, formed by Max Kevin Ølstøren, and began releasing demos. The band released three independent EPs, titled ''The Path of Challenges'', ''The Throne of Justice and Love'' and ''No Despair'' all through SoundCloud and YouTube. On 13 October 2017, it was announced that the project had signed to Nosral Recordings, a label formed by Mike Larson of Frost Like Ashes, which began as a sub-label of Rottweiler Records.<ref name="IVM" /><ref name="Facebook" /> In 2018, the band began to record their fourth EP, a self-titled EP.<ref name="TMO">{{cite web|url=https://www.themetalonslaught.com/single-post/2017/12/08/Shadow-Puncher-Releases-Album-Cover-and-Details-for-the-Upcoming-Album|title=Shadow Puncher Releases Album Cover and Details for the Upcoming Album|website=The Metal Onslaught|first=Mason|last=Beard|date=8 December 2017|accessdate=21 September 2018}}</ref><ref name="HM">{{cite web|url=http://dougvanpelt.wixsite.com/heavens-metal-mag/single-post/2017/12/20/SHADOW-PUNCHER-Releases-Album-Cover-and-Details-for-the-Upcoming-Album-on-Nosral-Recordings|title=SHADOW PUNCHER Releases Album Cover and Details for the Upcoming Album on Nosral Recordings|website=Heaven's Metal Magazine|date=20 December 2017|accessdate=21 September 2018}}</ref> Before the EP was released, the band debut the single, "Shekinah" as a lyric video.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mauce.nl/site/shadow-puncher-shekinah-exclusive-lyric-video-premiere/|title=Shadow Puncher, 'Shekinah' – Exclusive Lyric Video Premiere|website=The Metal Resource|author=thrashboy|date=26 January 2018|accessdate=21 September 2018}}</ref> The EP came out on 24 February 2018. The EP was produced by Luke Dinan of Children of Wrath and DinaSound Productions, which gave the EP a better produced sound than previous efforts.<ref name="TMO" /><ref name="HM" /> The EP received mixed to positive reviews.<ref name="RR" /><ref name="MR" /><ref name="PGA">{{cite web|url=https://puregrainaudio.com/reviews/shadow-puncher-shadow-puncher-album-review|title=Shadow Puncher – "Shadow Puncher"|website=Pure Grain Audio|first=Bruce|last=Moore|date=30 April 2018|accessdate=21 September 2018}}</ref> The project and label announced on 20 August 2018, that they were releasing a compilation of all three independent EPs titled ''One Path to the Heavenly Kingdom''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.themetalonslaught.com/single-post/2018/08/20/Shadow-Puncher-to-Re-release-first-three-EPs-under-One-Compilation|title=Shadow Puncher to Re-release first three EPs under One Compilation|website=The Metal Onslaught|first=Mason|last=Beard|date=20 August 2018|accessdate=21 September 2018}}</ref>

The project is currently working on their first full-length album, a cover of Cannibal Corpse with Symphony of Heaven, a song coming on a compilation between The Bearded Dragon Productions and Love Your Enemies Records, and will appear on a split album of Symphony of Heaven, Bismoth, and Timōrātus, providing backing vocals for the final band.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.themetalonslaught.com/single-post/2018/11/11/Shadow-Puncher-announces-release-schedule-for-2018-2019|title=Shadow Puncher announces release schedule for 2018–2019|website=The Metal Onslaught|first=Mason|last=Beard|date=11 November 2018|accessdate=6 December 2018}}</ref> The band will also be releasing a cover of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" through The Bearded Dragon Productions and Rottweiler Records.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/shadowpuncher/posts/528217434313701?__xts__[0]=68.ARAjBS7a9ocCOnVq1XfXjcK3fZkAM0ZR6vxqLIVf-AK7bnkq74U_CfPN2bP3lkTnXslckfupMZ195GHaxtPfLOePITAVfdtdElUIp3ztwWBY-ITiB2gMFI66SUUqUN5mTBBFnr5YbNJXcRPdpnaLAT8ftyH1CnzALF5kHXi2E0WLfsEKmkDrqSbcagPDmfNYS_6mlvzQeN12N5htqkE53eCL4Ucg8EvBxbyNGQ9w2SdtDHrIcyhav71DSModUuqJOJNtQm3dvFGTxHO_bE5QJ23C0B0eZjWPwCpSNGniwfPhSeWPuA8bJeyWpP_RJYVxrtSDHdzWdnDT5JMZ1GU&__tn__=-R|title=There will be coming a brutal death metal cover...|website=Facebook|date=28 November 2018|accessdate=6 December 2018}}</ref>

However, in 2019, the band would depart from the label and release material on their own. The Cannibal Corpse cover would not be released, three full-lengths, ''777'', ''To Victory We March'', and ''All Glory to the King of the Kings and the Lord of the Lords'', would be released.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.themetalonslaught.com/post/shadow-puncher|title=Shadow Puncher|author=Metalmira|date=22 November 2019|accessdate=22 November 2019}}</ref> An EP, titled ''The Almighty Exorcist'', which featured Abated Mass of Flesh vocalist Matt Plunkett and Come to Pass vocalist Nick Wiser.

== Influences == Shadow Puncher is influenced by several bands, most notably Metallica, Pantera, Sepultura, Dimmu Borgir,<ref name="IVM" /> Broken Flesh, Abominable Putridity, Rings of Saturn, Antestor, and Grave Declaration.<ref name="Facebook">{{cite web|url=https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2095344567369566&id=100006821291580&set=a.1391230887780941&source=57|title=Interview with Max Kevin of Shadow Puncher|website=Facebook|first=Max|last=Kevin|date=23 April 2018|accessdate=21 September 2018|interviewer=Dave Kruse}}</ref> However, reviews have compared him to Dominator Et Sanctum,<ref name="RR">{{cite web|url=https://www.reanimatedradio.com/review-shadow-puncher/|title=[Review] Shadow Puncher|website=Reanimated Radio|first=Jethro|last=de Beer|date=23 April 2018|accessdate=21 September 2018}}</ref> and Abated Mass of Flesh.<ref name="MR">{{cite web|url=http://mauce.nl/site/shadow-puncher-shadow-puncher-self-titled/|title=Shadow Puncher – "Shadow Puncher" (self-titled)|website=The Metal Resource|first=John|last=Jackson|date=12 February 2018|accessdate=21 September 2018}}</ref>

== Members == * Max Kevin Ølstøren – unclean vocals, guitars, bass, drums (2016–present)

== Discography == '''EPs''' * ''The Path of Challenges'' (2017) * ''The Throne of Justice and Love'' (2017) * ''No Despair'' (2017) * ''Shadow Puncher'' (2018) * ''The Almighty Exorcist'' (2019)

'''Studio albums''' * ''All Glory to the King of the Kings and the Lord of the Lords'' (2019) * ''To Victory We March'' (2019) * ''777'' (2019)

'''Compilation''' * ''One Path to the Heavenly Kingdom'' (2018)

'''Singles''' *"Evil Dead" (2019) *"Where o death...?" (2019) *"Knowledge" (2019) *"Strength" (2019)

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == *[https://shadowpuncher.bandcamp.com/album/shadow-puncher Bandcamp]

Category:Norwegian Christian metal musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 2016 Category:Norwegian death metal musical groups Category:Extreme metal musical groups Category:Groove metal musical groups Category:Nosral Recordings artists Category:2016 establishments in Norway