Deserted Fear
Dead Shores Rising
(Century Media)
You know the tired joke about Germans and their love of efficiency (except when it comes to EPA emissions testing… rimshot!). Well it is definitely true that German metal groups tend to exemplify a wonderfully efficient take on their style, while adding a layer of groove along the way. Take Heaven Shall Burn, Kreator, and Obscura as just a few examples of this trend (and not trying to push stereotypes- numerous bands like The Ocean and Bling Guardian don’t quite fit the mold). Like their fellow countrymen in Heaven Shall Burn, Deserted Fear share an appreciation for both strains of Swedish death metal. On their Century Media debut, you can hear the strong stomping influence of Bolt Thrower and early Asphyx (the latter is Swede metal by way of The Netherlands), but the underlying (and occasionally wonderfully dominating) melodies highlight a strong Dark Tranquillity sway.
It’s this desire to clean the murky waters of HM-2 Swedish metal with an emphasis on melody that gives Dead Shores Rising its edge. Well, it’s not all that murky, as the assured touch of Dan Swanö has rendered this record a real treat to listen to. Swanö’s ability to smooth things out without compromising their inherent grit is on wonderful display here. This isn’t “easy listening”, but with how poorly modern death metal records have been produced of late (either brickwalled to death or without regard for sonic integrity in the slightest), Deserted Fear/Century Media were smart to help give this record the platform it needed to succeed. After the requisite symphonic intro track, it’s easy to assume you should turn down the music to make way for an all-out aural assault. And while Deserted Fear sure do know how to blast and riff with the best of them, the transition is smooth to the meat of the album.
Oh, and that meat is definitely USDA Grade A quality (at least until Trump put in a fast food lobbyist to run the USDA…). The near-perfect interplay between the super-efficient melodies and meat-cleaver-sharp heaviness results in a dynamic and memorable record. A lot of the compositions have a sort of regal or mournful quality to them, not unlike Insomnium at their peak, albeit with a lot sharper teeth. The band definitely stepped up in their transition to a major label. Their previous records contained part of the dual-edged charm of Dead Shores Rising, but they felt overlong and not entirely fleshed out. That’s not a problem here, as the record is consistently engaging and entertaining. Even when the melodies don’t initially carry a tune, like in “Corrosion of Souls”, a neat little bridge comes in and knocks you on your ass, while still trying to air guitar. It’s a tough feat, but believe in yourself.
Where the record falters is merely in how efficient the band takes things. Their songwriting is very simple and can feel unnecessarily so, but they utilize it to great effect on pretty much every tune here. Solos may appear, but riffs and melodies are really the name of the game. That said, if you can get behind an excellent rendition of a more melodeath-tinged old-school Swedish death metal sound, there’s a whole Hell of a lot to love on Dead Shores Rising. Deserted Fear’s style should appear to a wide range of fans of the style, as sometimes simple yet effective is perfectly fine. This record certainly showcases that.
Purchase the album here: Physical | iTunes | Amazon
