Review Summary: An amazing Tech-Thrash album by a rather anonymous German band.
I'll have to be honest with you all. The first time I have ever even heard of Deathrow was yesterday. I have only heard their obvious masterpiece, Deception Ignored, a few times. This is probably going to be the worst review I have ever written, but I am still writing it without even a single bit of regret, because this is probably one of the greatest Thrash albums ever recorded, and it needed a review badly.
Progressive was always an appealing genre for me, from King Crimson to Camel, I have enjoyed almost every progressive song I had the luck to listen to. Thrash also is one of my favorite genres, been thrashing to the big four since the seventh grade.
When combining them both, expectedly, one of the most enjoyable genres is born, and just like the better known classics …And Justice For All by Metallica and Nothingface by Voivod, Deception Ignored leaves you open-mouthed after 47 minutes of intense listening. A trip to the unknown depths of existence, exploring every inch of your brain, yet still thrashing like a madman through it all.
The vocals are pretty decent, and they can be easily compared to many known Thrash acts (Heathen come to mind). The instrumentals, on the other hand, are absolutely amazing. Every riff here is unquestionably great. Technical Thrash at its best. You only need to listen to the second track off the album, The Deathwish, to have your mind instantly blown. Right after, the instrumental Triocton is pure 8 minutes of pleasure. Every riff blends into the other perfectly. Starting from the piano at the beginning, until the classical acoustic melody at the end, everything is perfect. I can keep going on and on like that about every track on the album, because they all are amazing, but I won't bore you with unnecessary details – this album just rocks.
I am in no way a Thrash expert, but I can easily tell that this is a Progressive Technical-Thrash masterpiece. The dudes from Germany are certainly at the top of their game with top notch songwriting and decent vocals, drumming and production.
If you liked Heathen's Victims Of Deception or Coroner's Mental Vortex you should get this immediately, I recommend it for anyone who likes Technical/Progressive Thrash.
Decepption Ignored was released in 1988. The record label is Noise Records and it is 46:57 minutes long.
Personnel:
Milo - Vocals (lead), Bass
Sven Flügge - Guitars (lead)
Uwe Osterlehne r- Guitars (lead, classical), Piano, Vocals (backing)
Markus Hahn - Drums
Production:
Harris Johns - Producer, Engineering
Angelo Plate - Assistant Engineering
Karl-U. Walterbach - Executive Producer
Dorothea Kemper - Cover Art
Martin Becker - Photography