Degradead - Til Death Do Us Apart
Dockyard 1 Records – 2008
By Ryan M
I think it goes without saying that
Degradead will definitely turn some heads with their debut album,
Til Death Do Us Apart – a CD of classic melodic death metal combined with minor elements of thrash, along with various other qualities that are not commonly found in death metal. Clean vocals are scattered throughout, and despite often seeming misplaced in death metal, they fit in perfectly and give a refreshing twist to the typical melodeath sound here. The music can be best described as a mix between the vocal diversity of bands such as
Mercenary and
Into Eternity, meeting the instrumental complexity and structure of classic Gothenburg acts such as the ever-popular
At The Gates, and other important contributors to the sound.
The instrumental arrangements are quite unique for a thrash/melodic death metal hybrid like Degradead, and rely much more on complex and demanding rhythm work than sheer brutality and heaviness. The bass is used sparingly, but enough to liven up sections where needed, while the guitar work perfectly accompanies and supports the strong vocal melodies. The only instrumental downfall would be that the guitar solos and growling vocals, which tend to leave something to be desired (with a couple exceptions of well executed and composed solos), and lack anything that stands out and grasps your attention as unique or innovative. However,
Degradead are one of few bands in the genre who can get away with pulling it off properly thanks to their unique and catchy compositions.
Lyrically, the album is unimpressive, but in terms of instrumentation - everything progresses nicely and leads to a solid release, although with a disappointing conclusion that sounds almost misplaced. Catchy melodies, lines and phrases are scattered throughout the album which tend to leave the listener hooked and wondering what they will do on the following songs. The production is rock solid and impressive for a band's first album, and I think I speak for both me and melodic death metal fans alike when I say we would love to see what these guys plan on releasing in the not-so-distant future. If they play their cards right and build upon the strong foundation they have created with this album, they have potential to mold a unique sound that they can call their own and captivate their audiences even more-so than already.
In conclusion, it is a solid melodic death metal album, influenced by the likes of
In Flames,
At The Gates, and
Into Eternity. Any fans of those bands, or melodeath as a whole, will more than likely not be disappointed by this album. However, if you're looking for something unique and mind-blowingly innovative, I suggest you look somewhere else.
Official Degradead website
Official Degradead myspace
Official Dockyard1 website
