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Degradead > Out of Body Experience > Reviews > sataa
Degradead - Out of Body Experience

No clean vocals, please - 90%

sataa, July 9th, 2009

I’ve heard that guys from In Flames appointed Degradead their successors. I’d risk to say it is an offence. By saying so they meant: “Okay, you’re quite good but all you can do is follow in our footsteps. Then we, masters, grant you our blessing: go and play!”. Maybe I exaggerate, but the (subjective) truth is that Degradead are far better. Their first release was very good. But what they did with “Out of…” is close to perfection. It would be perfect if not one detail…

Micke Sehlin is a great vocalist. He uses five different kinds of voice: three types of growl (first: very low and “scary”; second: deep, “classic” growl, third: shrill growl a la Petri Lindroos, but not that messy), half-growl and clean voice. And a problem is with the last one. When he uses it, I feel like listening to Ari Koivunen. I don’t mind Ari, but such vocals suit rather symphonic or power metal, where there is a considerable amount of pathos required. But, hell, not in melodeath! Hopefully Micke more screams than sings, and that’s why there is only one song completely fucked up “thanks to” clean vocals.

Thre are fourteen songs and any of them cannot be called “a filler”. It is apparent, that the guys have plenty of ideas and enthusiasm. They also seem to be authentically “angry”, as youths usually do. That gives their songs the specific, subtle aura of freshness. The same rebellious, youthful spirit can be traced in first three LPs of Norther. I like Norther anyway, but they’ve definitely lost that spirit. I’m afraid it’s rather unavoidable, as you cannot spend years playing, recording and touring, and feel the first-time-excitement all the time. But the main point about it is that hardly any band sounds really “fresh”; even at the beginning of their development. I wish Degradead would preserve their refreshing style as long as possible.

A closer look on few songs is needed, of course:

All is Gone – this is the one fucked up. The song starts hard so you expect a real kick in the chorus. And you get what?! An awful, affected croon. Yuck. Apart from clean vocals, everything here is okay, but it doesn’t matter at all. The whole impression is completely destroyed by about two lines sung cleanly.

Everlasting Hatred – the best one, without doubt, and one of the best melodeath songs I’ve ever heard. It is very melodic and very heavy. And has no clean vocals. The changes in tempo are extremely well attuned, and that’s why the song keeps its rhythm, the same time avoiding monotony. For dessert you get a final kick starting at about the third minute and coming to an end with romantic acoustic tones. It is no use trying to describe it. It has to be heard.

V.X.R – the one containing the greatest load of aggression. And no clean vocals again. My second favourite. When Sehlin chants: “I – HATE – YOU – SO – DAMN – MUCH” I get shivers.

Almost Dead – the most catchy one. Some “experts” would probably call it “popish” and “shitty” but I don’t care. I wish it was played on commercial radios to make people see how enchanting and approachable metal may be. (Or maybe it is too idealistic of me to believe that people would fall in love with metal if they were given a chance to listen to it?…)

Dream – the most moving an saddening one. But somehow I am not able to say, why. Maybe it is the matter of lyrics, partially.

Another thing to be mentioned is the matter of guitar solos. It is amazing, how well they are fitted into the streams of songs. The transitions to solos are so smooth, that during first listening to the album I didn’t notice them. With, for example, Norther not noticing solos is impossible. I do no consider making solos separate parts of songs a crime (I like Norther’s brilliant solos!) but I think the ability to interweave solo parts with the rest of a song is particularly worth admiration.

And finally, there is something characteristic about Degradead’s guitars. I do not play guitar, so I am not able to say whether it is the matter of some specific technique applied or just the manner of playing, but the guitars sound er… the most appropriate word I can think of is “rounded”. It makes you feel like stand up and roll with the music. This phenomenon is best manifested in Future Is Now, The Burning Orchid and Almost Dead.

All in all, Degradead sound too pleasant and too melodic to be called “really heavy stuff”. Therefore, if you need to have your ass kicked by something Swedish, try rather Meshuggah.