DEADHEAD
Depression Tank
(Displeased Records)
41:30min

Since their 1999 album, "Kill Division", DEADHEAD released only one album, "Haatland", in 2005. Full lengths are momentous occasions for DEADHEAD, either because they emphasize quality over quantity like MONSTROSITY, or they’re unbearably slow songwriters. My guess is the former. The years have not diminished DEADHEAD’s quirky speed reminiscent of DECEASED, or the intensity of the vocalist’s screams. The only thing that stands as questionable is the production, a very modern approach to capturing old school songwriting. It hardly ever works convincingly, but with a band like DEADHEAD, the problem is not as severe because their songwriting is good enough to leap through digital constraints. However, it is never wise to let nostalgia cloud judgement. Just because DEADHEAD are an old band who haven’t altered their approach, it doesn’t make them phenomenal. This is not extraordinary Death Metal, it’s only several cuts above today’s music, which leaves a considerable distance to truly good. Nevertheless, DEADHEAD are good, and this album of theirs would have attracted some attention if it had been released in 1992. www.myspace.com/deadheadthrash, www.displeasedrecords.com

Nathan Shapiro

Nathan Shapiro

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