ALBUM REVIEW: Deceased – Ghostly White

Here I review another new release from Hells Headbangers, the new album from Death Metal titans DECEASED! Set for release on November 16th.

1. Mrs. Allardyce starts off with a really awesome Hammer Horror vibe introduction, really setting the mood to perfection. The sampling drops right into intense drums with blinding riffs, staunch rhythms and a generally amazing sense of writing with its naturally progressed hard hitting yet melodious approach. The lead work is stunning and brings the whole piece together, ready for some more thrashy and kick ass riffs. The gruesome vocals jump into morbidity and on great form. With a haunting, drawn out vibe the whole piece gorgeously comes into its own as some perfect Horror movie soundtrack material. If King Diamond met Obituary, this is how it would sound I think. My overall consensus was that this is a really strong opening piece that is equally brutal and eerie, filled with atmosphere and amazing musicianship. A great beginning to the album!
2. Germ Of Distorted Lore brings in more upbeat melodies, soaring guitar work and a really warm feel to everything that is beautifully drawn out and rich with harmony. The hideously aggressive vocals perfectly contrast the more rhythmic background, giving the music a diversity and strength within itself that just hits so hard. The progressions between sections are exciting and unpredictable with some fantastically catchy hooks. The guitar solo was like a funeral ballad with a really doomy feel, adding so much sombre and emotive life to the piece. The slower tempo sections help pace the song very nicely, really adding to the monolithic atmosphere it creates that is just stunning to listen to from start to finish. I think having such a long track as a Death Metal band is very ambitious but DECEASED really put it off and create a perfectly unique, original and wonderful track!
3. A Palpation’s Warning fires right into frenzies drums and guitars that just blast out chaotic violence with so much force. The nightmarish vocals hideously coat the demonic instrumentals to create something truly horrific and astoundingly brilliant, the thrashy pace is very well suited to the descent into madness this song captures. The guitar solo was totally killer with an awesome old school vibe that seems influenced by Andy LaRoque, beautifully done. A very catchy, crushingly dark and epic track!
4. To Serve the Insane comes in with a more light-hearted vibe, flourishing leads and a more 80s feel to it than the other pieces. Soon driving out groovy riffs and pulsating rhythms that immediately drag you to hell with the amazing music that is being blasted relentless at you. The lead work among these track so far has really elevated and accentuated the vibe of the song whilst not distracting from their bleak and grisly attack in any way. This track is a true headbanger, damn intense and ridiculously furious. Awesome work on this track, with a really bittersweet feeling to it.
5. Endless Well blasts right into chugging riffs, chaotic drums that are excellently played and some superbly vitriolic vocal assaults. The speedy, menacing grind of the song is just fantastic, in your face and really bold. This is just pure, unrelenting fury that attack you with haste and skill. The guitar leads once more add some gorgeous flamboyance to the piece which smoothly flows into darkness and chaotic realms without missing a beat. There is also plenty of haunting melancholy in this song, which is not a first for the album but certainly very welcome, to me it adds a really tasteful sense of variety to things. Fantastic piece!
6. The Shivers pummels melody and crashing cymbal hits that forces the song into fruition, with no holds barred and sheer speed taking a primal assault against the listener this is some gruesomely intense material. With a dangerous feel to the music that I am sure would be insane to witness in a live setting. Pure frenzied violence and unrivalled Death Metal ferocity at its best. This song also has a really cold vibe to it, the lead guitars bringing out it even further into the open which just adds such a gorgeous bitter touch to the music, perfectly fitting with the hate fuelled vocals. The bass solo was a really grisly and brutal touch too. Awesome work.
7. Thoughts from a Leaking Brain comes in more slowly with marching drums and stunning, pristine guitars. Spoken word sections really add depth to the vitality of the sombre mood before melodic and catchy riffs soon join. The upbeat attack of this song has a beautifully tight yet primitive attack to it that is really enjoyable. The spoken parts sound awesome and everything once more falls perfectly into place for some morbid and violent Death Metal mayhem. The songwriting on this album has been consistently amazing with songs like this that add a real diversity while keeping the huge momentum alive and keeping the listener on their toes for more unpredictable twists and turns. The solos on this track are the last thing I want to mention, they were absolutely killer with so much emotional intensity and soulful groove. Gloriously done!
8. Pale Surroundings is the final piece of the album, I have no idea how they are going to end such a masterpiece, I am sure it’ll be awesome though, so let’s get on with it! Starting off with some creepy as hell sampled music that only lasts briefly before dropping into more insane melodies, fabulous drums and haunting female vocals. The regular snarled vocal attack soon come back though, tearing through each line with haste and fury while the guitar, bass and drums just rip you apart with their speedy barrages of Death Metal madness. This closing track finishes the job of the album nicely with doomy riffs in part that really allow things to grind out nicely to a halt but without dishing out some final batches of groovy Metal. An excellent closing piece to a truly astounding album.

This album is some of the most unique and stunningly atmospheric yet grotesquely brutal Death Metal to grace my ears in some time. While there have been many amazing Death Metal releases in 2018, this is one of the most strangely atmospheric ones and is certainly worth checking out. -10/10