On disc: DeadSoul Tribe

 
- The Dead World
 
- Monika Schmidt -
 
 


 
- A Lullaby For The Devil
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 

A Lullaby For The Devil

(InsideOut Music - 2007)



 
 

 

Mastermind Devon Graves wanted to start something new with DeadSoul Tribe and the album A Lullaby For The Devil. He calls the new musical style Modern Day Heavy Metal. The first impression you get with the opening track Psychosphere which is heavy, dark and is based on a heavy bass riff. But its the vocals which makes a difference... They are dark and threatening... You get the feeling that someone is after you... and the whispered words are addressing you... You almost feel psychotic. And again Mr. Graves surprises you when the track Goodbye City Life starts with drums and you hear something which sounds like radio news... Again threatening and it seems to get closer... Marching on. But on top is a guitar line which partly seems to be disturbingly peaceful. Then it dies away and fragile keyboard sounds and vocals make you feel puzzled. Then the frenzy starts again. Disturbing. And that's not the last twist on this tune! Very heavy and with hypnotic deep vocals Here Comes The Pigs shows another facet of nowadays DeadSoul Tribe sound. While Lost In You is still heavy, but more intriguing. The vocals partly remind me of Jethro Tull, but then change and... Too many different styles woven into this one, you have to listen yourself. The instrumental A Gossamer Strand shows a large variety of sounds and emotions. Here in a way the flute takes over what would be the vocal line... and there is even a part where it seems that drums and flute are talking to each other. Very cool! And usually I'm not a big fan of instrumentals! Fear starts a bit ELP-like... But has a bombastic edge... The guitar sings and this adds some Pink Floyd-ish... But again all this can't explain the music. Its like you get only a very few parts of a jigsaw and can just guess what's it like in its wholeness.

As a bonus this one has a multimedia part with 4 live acoustic songs incl. 2 songs which were initially released by Psychotic Waltz.

The album is full of surprises and it's kinda disturbing. Don't expect anything close to the previous releases, even if there are sparks of the old DeadSoul Tribe here and there. There are unexpected twists and turns - and this is fascinating. It won't let you go... you have to stay and listen...
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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The Dead World

(InsideOut Music - 2005)



 
 

 

Devan Graves was the mastermind of Psychotic Waltz - even if there he used the name Buddy Lackey - and is now the creative head behind Deadsoul Tribe. The American is living in Vienna and for the recordings he's just teaming up with drummer Adel Mustafa. In the studio Graves' playing all instruments beside drums / percussion. About a year ago they 3rd album The January Tree was released, some bands aren't able to get a good album together in just one year, but Mr. Graves did.

It's hard to describe the sound of Deadsoul Tribe, but when you know they last album you have an idea - at least. The Dead World is darker, more melancholy then the former release. Some songs are based on the groove of Adel like A Flight On An Angels Wing and To My Beloved. Anyway, they are emotional, poetic and melancholy. But there is also some balladesque song like Some Sane Advice which has a bit 60's flair. They hook up the listener with Let The Hammer Fall, a highlight on the album. Or listen to the psychedelic My Dying Wish.

Deadsoul Tribe offer a variety of songs, even if all have some progressive elements and a dark atmosphere. A different way they chose compared with The January Tree, but only a different side of Deadsoul Tribe or another young shot off The January Tree.
 
 










Monika Schmidt
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)

  
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