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May 17, 2012 |
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01. Prelude: Time And Pressure
02. A Flight On An Angels Wing
03. To My Beloved...
04. Don't You Ever Hurt?
05. Some Sane Advice
06. Let The Hammer Fall
07. Waiting In Line
08. Someday
09. My Dying Wish
10. A Fistful Of Bended Nails
11. The Long Ride Home
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DEAD SOUL TRIBE have released four albums so far: "Dead Soul Tribe" in 2002, "A Murder Of Crows" in 2003, "The January Tree" in 2004 and now finally, "The Dead Word" this winter. Since the very beginning, DEAD SOUL TRIBE's Dark Progressive Metal has been rightfully considered as very similar to what TOOL have been doing since the start. Of course, one could only hope that with time and maturity they would distance themselves from this early influence and start developing their own style. However, despite this factor, the majority of people exposed to DST's music still really enjoyed their material; album after album, it kept gaining the same level of enthusiasm from the press and the public.
After the intro, "Prelude: Time And Pressure", "A Flight On Angels Wing" seems to pick things up right where the previous album left off. Same sound and same vibe, as if the material was written and recorded all together right from the beginning and was then being partly released in one-year intervals. And the next song "To My Beloved" doesn't make me change my mind either. While the voice of Devon Graves and the drums/percussions combination from Adel Moustafa are highly intoxicating, the musicianship is very tight and the melodies spellbinding. I was just hoping for DEAD SOUL TRIBE to take the risk to try something different rather than using the same recipe once again, and an example of this is "Don't You Ever Hurt?".
Fortunately, the acoustic ballad "Some Sane Advice", with its '70s spirit and amazing vocal harmonies, suddenly revives my interest in this album by finally bringing out something different. I just wish there were more of those on this disc. "Let The Hammer Fall" seems to pick things up instead of sticking with the usual slow tempo DEAD SOULD TRIBE get us accustomed to, with a faster pace and a riff in a similat style to LED ZEPPELIN's masterpiece "Immigrant Song". Following in a heavier vibe, "Waiting In Line" also gives the impression that something is finally happening here, with the addition of the flute, which always melts perfectly with the rest of the instruments. I have to admit that this album gets more interesting as it progresses. After the super short ballad "Someday" (1:34), the very groovy "My Dying Wish" kicks in and doesn't sound like anything recorded by these guys before. "A Fistful Of Bended Nails" takes us back to the traditional style of DEAD SOUL TRIBE.
"The Long Ride Home" closes the album with beauty; Devon Graves' warm voice is full of emotion in perfect harmony with the song's aggressiveness and melody, which is totally enhanced by a very impressive flute solo towards the end.
Despite a slow start on the first few tracks, DEAD SOUL TRIBE have proved this time that they are not short of surprises. This album is definitely the most original they have recorded so far, and if you're in the mood for some very dark and depressing material you should go ahead and get it. The atmosphere on it is perfect for this time of the year.
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