Dead Head - Dream Deceiver

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http://www.secret-face.com/

#FOR FANS OF: Thrash/Death

I actually like this album more than their newer material! The music is better, so is the production and vocals. Quite an array of thrash galore and not so much death metal here, they seem to blend those two genres together. The vocals are a little different from what I'm used to, but the music is top notch! A lot of memorable riffs here and quite a sum of variety, too! Everything fit together on this release. Nothing seems to really lag, the energy is high up there. All 10 tracks (but the last release under Hammerheart Records, has 17!) are good, there weren't any that I though were lesser than others. They really seemed to put their creative juices to work on this one.

One thing that I won't get into are the lyrical concepts. Everything else I'm pretty open to on here. This is a second album I've heard from this band and I'm really liking what I'm hearing! The guitar riffs I've paid close attention to and I've concluded it's probably their best in existence! I took the liberty to find this on CD because I really want to hear it in my stereo, not nauseating headphones. They don't have a mountain full of followers nor press, so helping this band is the best way to show they mean business in the metal realm. I've done my part and if you're not convinced, it's your issue.

This is somewhat of an old-style production type of recording, but everything seemed to be mixed well! The guitars and vocals I paid most attention to. I've found that there's not an overabundance of lead guitar going around here, just enough. That's something I found fault in their more recent recordings. The rhythms were straightforward and somewhat technical. But they sure as hell made catchy riffs! They were pretty original in their songwriting. I didn't find much flaws in their playing, they were immaculate! The voice went well with the music! I've found the music to be the most likable aspect to this release.

As I've said, show some support to this band and buy the CD! It's worth it, to those who still have CD players! Spotify and YouTube both feature this album. I would take an hour out of your time and take a good listen to this release! It's worth your time. I wouldn't be urging you to do it if I didn't believe it to be true! Thrash galore and the riffs are hell of a lot of creative in this genre of metal! I'd like for this band to stay in existence for a while longer even if it just amounts to a few good releases. But like I said, I've found all the albums I've heard from this band to be palatable! Check them out! (Death8699)

(Bad Taste Recordings/Hammerheart Records - 1993/2019)
Score: 74

https://deadheadhhr.bandcamp.com/album/dream-deceiver

Dead Head - Swine Plague

http://www.secret-face.com/

#FOR FANS OF: Thrash/Death, Kreator, Sadus

I was taken aback after hearing this! What a speed/thrash killer release! Vocals sound a little like Warbringer's vocalist but a little bit different and the music is top notch. I totally dig the riffs on this one. Definitely innovative for them being that this is my first exposure to this band. I enjoyed the album immensely! Though, there's too many solos for my taste. But the intensity is on just about every track! With exceptions, of course. This album has the grit to be strong the whole way through! I think that's it's deserving of a "B" rating overall. I found it to be straightforward and consistently good!

I really like a lot of the riffs they're spewing out on their guitars! They sound great (the tone). It's perfect crunch tone for quality playing. The whole album seems to be strong with consistent riffs that makes the songs flow like an ever flowing stream! (Dismember) This band is quality and they have many years to go in this genre. Another thing I like about this one is that it's pretty raw. Kind of like Metallica's 'Kill Em All' but not as much, still as a comparison it seems to be like that sound. This band plays some pretty fast and technical riffs.

As I talked about, the production is good just the guitars and sound is raw. But that doesn't ruin the magic of this release. I would take out excessive leads but that's just me. It's another reason why I marked points off from the score. But the vocals fit well with the music. In that respect, it's solid. I'm not a fan of the lyrical concepts, just the music. That seems to be the strongest aspect as to what's going on here. Their music is what drew me into this release. The band has some other albums out that I haven't listened to yet. Actually heard about them from a buddy of mine.

I had to order this CD because I'm hearing way much of what I'm into with thrash/speed metal bands. And just discovering this band by word of mouth makes me want to get all their releases! But anyway, you can listen to the digital copy on Spotify or like me show support for the band and buy the physical copy of this album. There are just so many highlights to this release and the energy is top notch up there! That's what you have to love about this band, their strength in songwriting and aura they send to the listener. Check them out! (Death8699)

(Hammerheart Records - 2017)
Score: 73

https://deadheadhhr.bandcamp.com/album/swine-plague