2024 Hells Headbangers / CD, Cassette, LP
www.hellsheadbangers.com
BADASS SONG TITLES: Terrornaut, The Reaper Is Nesting, Eerie
Wavelengths, Skull with the Vacant Stare
BADASS TRACKS: Terrornaut, The Reaper Is Nesting, Eerie
Wavelengths, Brooding Lament, Farewell (Taken to Forever) – yes, I like the aggressive
shit the most.
This is one band I don’t need to spend time describing. They’ve
been around since the original wave of death metal, weathered all manner of
storms between then and now, and came out the other side stronger and ever more
focused. If you don’t know who Deceased is, you can chuck your fuckin’
backpatch right in the trash, because you’re not a metalist at all.
Along the lines of their classic record “Supernatural
Addiction” comes this new masterpiece of the metal of death, “Children of the
Morgue.” It’s a damn fine record by a damn fine band. I can’t think of another
band that has had as many different stylistic leanings as them over the years
that has kept me as a fan, and I think that’s down to Fowley & co.’s
understanding of what makes something metal. I tend to gravitate to bands that
don’t throw me curveballs, but every one that Deceased has thrown me has been a
positive one. They’ve been playing in this style for a while now, and I think
it suits them well. I got into them back in the Relapse days with “Blueprints
for Madness”, back when I was finding my footing in metal (when that came out I
had turned 15 that summer), and I’ve loved them ever since.
Melding classic heavy metal with what we normally associate
with death metal was a stroke of genius on their part years ago, and continuing
in this vein was a great decision. There are all sorts of Possessed-style
moments on this record, but there are also elements of the heavy metal greats
of yore, with melodic leads and excellent riff-work. Just listen to the
beginning of “Eerie Wavelengths.” It’s got it all! Deceased is not all
brutality, but it is all death metal. I think you’ll understand what I’m trying
to say. The chops on display, musically, are on par with the best musicians in
metal. But all of it, and I mean all of it, makes you bang your fuckin’ head.
And the lyrics are up there with King Diamond for storytelling. Each song is
like a short horror story. Not to mention King Fowley’s vocals are as strong as
they’ve ever been, and they still have that nasty edge to them.
I can’t recommend this album highly enough. None of it
disappoints, sonically it's perfect, the short instrumentals add to the feel of the album, and the
ghostly childrens' voices here and there on the record are totally fucked, they’re
spooky as shit. Every song is different and memorable, and a little sonic journey all its own. I hope these gents continue to make music and keep Deceased going
as long as they can. We are the ones that are rewarded, as fans, when records
this good come out.
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