I am about to rant and demean this puppy inside and out. So beware. CD’s like this just aggravate me to no end. This will stand as one of the year’s worst records in my list. Deadlock where fairly new to the scene a few years ago and showed some potential in the female/male fronted melodic death genre. However, after a not so interesting couple of albums and now this stinker, it is unquestionable that Deadlock are only treading saturated waters and making decisions far in left field for their chosen style. If you do not like formulated mainstream metal, then stay away.
Deadlock play what is a mostly female fronted version of Scar Symmetry or a heavier version of Lacuna Coil. It is well produced and well rounded, except for the fact that it’s totally uninteresting and tasteless. Riffs are recycled and the music is way too formulated. Basically, you have low-end guitars riffing it out while most of the verses are growled by Johannes Prem. Then chorus breaks happen with clean sung female vocals from Miss Sabine Weniger that just scream mainstream, pop, I want paid, metal. Why is that a bad thing? Well, the only reason that matters is the fact that there is plenty of that shit already out there. If you don’t advance your sound and you persist with recycled riffs, you’re going to get lost in the mix. That’s exactly where Deadlock find themselves, mixed in the sea of redundant pop (dare I say extreme) metal. If you’re 14 and this is your favorite band, I’m sorry but, I hate your musical taste. There I said it.
Besides the formulated music and Scar Symmetry worship, which by the way Christian Alvestam drops in on “Dying Breed,” there are some horrific additions to Manifesto that will probably turn most metal fans off even more. The biggest is track five “Deathrace.” Pure rap ladies and gentlemen! Pure fucking Tupac rap! Why the hell would I buy a metal CD if there was a fucking rap song in the middle? It just doesn’t work. Worst career decision ever! I don’t care if you do like rap, there is no need for it in metal.
There are also a lot of dance beats and techno samples happening every now and then. The CD starts that way. It will not surprise me if this band goes fusing all this together on the next album. I’m just totally not impressed and ready to forget this release. There is far better music out there people. Go find it.
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Loved the review.
on Dec 9th, 2008 at 16:35Hehehe. I’ve never heard them before, but I’ll be sure to seer clear now. Though my interest peaked there for a second when you said Christian Alvestam, but I’d rather not risk hearing him attached to bullshit.
on Dec 9th, 2008 at 18:23They were a decent band circa Earth.Revolt. Back then they were a solid melo-death band with a heavy symphonic element, but I knew they were taking a turn for the worst when they announced that Sabine Weniger was being made a full time member. It was right when the female-fronted pop metal genre was blowing up. The timing said it all. ‘Wolves’ was pretty lame and it seems like they’ve only gotten worse since then.
on Dec 9th, 2008 at 19:51Fair review. They have over-egged the pudding with too many alien elements. Besides, it lacks at least one interesting melody.
on Dec 10th, 2008 at 00:04I was harsh. But Don’t put a fucking rap song on your metal album. Dear god!
on Dec 10th, 2008 at 05:58I have to check this one out now.
on Dec 10th, 2008 at 12:55I put in an interview request for you Stiffy, they should be emailing you shortly.
on Dec 11th, 2008 at 16:55DAMN YOU!!
on Dec 12th, 2008 at 06:41