DEAD HEAD — Depression Tank (review)

DEAD HEAD — Depression Tank album cover Album · 2009 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Depression Tank" is the 5th full-length studio album by Dutch death/thrash metal act Dead Head. The album was released through Displeased Records in February 2009. It´s the successor to "Haatland" from 2005 and features one lineup change since the predecessor as lead vocalist/bassist Tom van Dijk has been replaced by Ralph de Boer. de Boer would leave Dead Head again in 2011, paving the way for a return of van Dijk in 2012.

You´d expect a change on something as central as the lead vocalist position in a band would affect said band´s sound at least a bit, but that´s not the case with the lead vocalist/bassist switch in Dead Head. de Boer sounds almost one to one like van Dijk, and if I didn´t know from reading the lineup, I wouldn´t have noticed the change. van Dijk had the perfect rabid dog vitriol filled raw vocal delivery for Dead Head´s aggressive death/thrash material and de Boer continues that tradition to perfection.

Stylistically Dead Head pretty much continue the death/thrash metal style of "Haatland (2005)". There are overall more mid-paced heavy sections than on any of the preceding releases, but Dead Head have found a good balance between fast-paced sections and mid-paced sections, to make "Depression Tank" a relatively varied and entertaining release throughout. It´s a balance they haven´t been able to hit this well before.

The songwriting is also slightly more memorable than usual, and paired with the high level musicianship (sharp and skillfully played fast-paced and mid-paced riffs and rhythms, screaming guitar solos, and effective caustic vocals), and a detailed and powerful sounding production, this is a high quality release through and through. I´ve been a bit harsh in the past and haven´t been willing to hand out a 4 star (80%) rating to any of the band´s previous releases, but this time I think a 4 star (80%) rating is fully deserved. Fans of aggressive death/thrash with a good sense for heavy grooves and tempo changes, are adviced to give this one a listen.
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