Review Summary: This sextet has managed to release an enjoyable album, but it has some flaws that the album as a whole is not able to overcome.
Deadlock has released their sixth album in 2008 (Europe, etc.) and 2009 (America/Canada), and third on Lifeforce Records. This is only the second release including Sabine Weniger though, She was the reason the band changed up their sound on their previous album
Wolves. Having heard some of the earlier works be Deadlock, the current sound is much better, and apparently everyone else agrees and Wolves was a success. However after twelve years, is the band starting to break into the big leagues or are they near the end of their lifespan?
You get a fully electronic opener in “
The Moribund Choir vs. The Trumpets Of Armageddon” that would start off a rave on a great note. The guitars keep this electronic vibe for the intro of “
Martyr To Science”. The growler has improved on his growls greatly and it makes for a great listen. Sabine tackles all the clean singing, and does a great job at it. There is a downfall to the vocals though, and it is the song lengths. The longer the song, the more annoying the vocals get near the end. Sabine also took a vocal misstep in each of her vocal parts, aside from the chorus, on “
Slaughter’s Palace”. They seem out of place and very comical.
That is not the worst idea found on this album though. The worst idea is a melodic death metal song turning into a rap song. At the end of “
Deathrace” the listener is given a two minute rap song talking about animal rights and how animal abuse is wrong. While the topic is great, the rhymes are lame and last I checked this was a melodic death metal album. This would have been acceptable if it was a hidden track or a bonus track on a re-issue, but as it stands it is a horrible idea that should have never happened.
The guitars mostly keep with common metal guitar fair, but good guitar solos are found on some of these songs, ex. “Martyr To Science”. There is a surprising good echo-infused solo on the track “Deathrace”. The riffs never really stand out on their own, yet they are well crafted and hold the songs together nicely. The riffs would have been helped by a little spicing up, as they are on the verge most times of being generic.
This sextet has managed to release an enjoyable album, but it has some flaws that the album as a whole is not able to overcome. The band seems to be falling off quickly with this new sound crafted with the addition of Sabine.
Wolves is a better overall album than this one, and seems to be the bands peak. Hopefully this is not true as the band is capable of still writing good albums like this one, despite its flaws.
Recommended Songs: Martyr To Science, The Brave / Agony Applause
