DEADSEA „Self-Titled”

Music: Progressive
Country: USA
Web site: www.myspace.com/deadsea
Cool Songs: Coming Home, Assault, Vampyre's Kiss

Finding a single term to describe the music DEADSEA plays proved a difficult task. Progressive usually denotes a style of music with many changes, which aptly describes DEADSEA’s latest self-titled effort; however, this term also refers to a certain sound, often marked by a throwback keyboard sound and clean vocals. DEADSEA shows little similarity to RUSH, DREAM THEATER and KING CRIMSON. Their style is more inclined to OPETH, and quite a few moments recall the mighty kings of death metal progression, but DEADSEA offers so much more.

OPETH divides their music into mid-paced death metal tromps and beautiful, clean melodies. DEADSEA follows a similar formula, but encompass a greater amount of sections. Each section shows the group changing direction in tempo or style. A DEADSEA track may include moments of thrash, death metal, doom, clean vocals and acoustic guitar, experimental noise, and shredding leads. Each song contains amazing dynamics, leading the listener along an epic journey.

Because each track is so dynamic-laden and contains so many memorable parts, it is difficult to narrow down a few highlights for discussion. One of the catchier songs with head banging efficacy comes in the second track, “Coming Home.” This track begins with a quick chugging guitar and trotting drum beat. Melodic solos break up the frantic rhythm and add substance. After a couple verses, the music winds down and Adam Smith steps in with clean crooning. Like a blood red moon slowly covering the sun in a Vampire-ridden Carpathian hamlet, the tone progresses into darkness and trepidation. This transformation is marked by Smith changing his creepy clean vocals in, “all my fears from all my years,” to a blackened shriek in the next line, “through Satan’s voice come calling back to me.”

The following tracks grind along with anxious fervor, clocking in at 3:31 and 1:33. “Killing Faith (Crying Death)” rhythmically moves like early SLAYER, but breaks away into a furious, Pete Sandoval-type drum fill and geometric timing. “Assault” is a metal blitzkrieg—quick and deadly. To close out the album, DEADSEA contradicts these brief, early bursts of speed with the elongated, melody-rich numbers “Frozen Rivers” and “The Morning Frost.”

This review will most likely introduce most readers to DEADSEA. Their name may sound unfamiliar because this album and their prior recording, “Desiderata” found release through Chrome Leaf Records, which primarily caters to indie and experimental acts such as MELT BANANA and DEAD CHILDREN. However, readers in the Ohio area, their native state, might have seen them open for one or many major groups in the area and can attest to the accolades given in this review. Bands like DEADSEA keep metal from becoming a boring photocopy. Get this shit or perish in metal banality!

note: 10/10

Tracklist

1. Northwitch
2. Coming Home
3. Killing Faith
4. Assault
5. Vampyre's Kiss
6. Frozen Rivers
7. The Morning Frost
Total playing time 47:52

Line-up

Adam Smith – Guitar, Vocals, Synth
Alex Conley – Bass
Jeremy Spears – Drums