It shudders me, if I have to read in a bio, that a music-project has started as a college room project, because in 99,127 % of all cases this means to receive an Alternative- / Rock- / or Metal-related project. Things luckily differ with The New Division, as this Californian-based 4-men-outfit around the mastermind John Kunkel counts cult projects like Joy Division, Now Order and Depeche Mode to their main influences. The music proves to be inspired by this demanding row of idols and the band integrates successfully a strong 80s Romantic-Pop reference into their compositions. 'Shadows' as a whole drifts a bit away from the usual, sugar-sweet Synthpop-formula, so often discovered with mostly Scandinavian-based music-projects. It sounds here and there may a bit old-fashioned produced, which belongs in the unusual integration of reverb effects on vocals and drum patterns ' while this kind on the other hand spends a more bombastic outfit to the sound. However, it isn't the freshest water in use here, but it has charisma and authenticity. A guitar isn't a forbidden instrument, just check the tracks 'Sense' or 'Munich', which nearly sound like Britpop-inspired tunes. But definitely the better ones are those richly produced, Synthpop-driven tracks like 'Opium', 'Soft' or 'Hearts for Sale', which offer a melodic song-progression with an easy singing-along-the-line behavior. A good pick for the Swedish Progress Productions label and a constant force in the field of the Synth-/Futurepop-genre. The New Division and the talent behind this project aren't to underestimate.