Dead Label - Anthology
Hailing from Ireland, this metal band have grown considerably since first hitting my radar some nine years ago. The EP is a taster for what’s to come when they release their full album in the near future, although that’s still being worked on. The one good thing to come out of the lockdown(s) is that many artists have turned to using the time to create new music.
The opening track is a riff-laden punch to the face, and from there on in, it’s pretty much relentless. There are so many influences to pick up on as you listen, which gives the band a sound all of their own, and you can feel the pent-up anger and frustration that the band have endured over the past year.
Their style has grown a lot heavier over the years, and they are now a full-on metal powerhouse, and it’s plain that their intention is to pound you into submission with blow after blow, and they’ll almost certainly succeed in doing so. The EP is a frontal assault, as subtle as a sledgehammer, but most importantly, it’s bloody great, surprisingly so in fact.
So then, what we have is an EP consisting of six tracks that will bash you over the head with enough force to crush your skull, while simultaneously gracing your ears with some of the finest heavy metal you’re likely to hear. It really is that good. Give them a listen, you will NOT be disappointed. Is it perfect? Possibly not, because perfection is hard to achieve, but it’s scarily close. Maybe the album will be…. We’ll just have to wait and see though, won’t we?
9/10
