DECEASED — Fearless Undead Machines (review)

DECEASED — Fearless Undead Machines album cover Album · 1997 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Fearless Undead Machines" is the 3rd full-length studio album by US death/thrash metal act Deceased. The album was released through Relapse Records in June 1997. It´s the successor to "The Blueprints for Madness" from 1995. "Fearless Undead Machines" is a concept release featuring a zombie storyline based on the George A. Romero zombie trilogy and other zombie movies.

"Fearless Undead Machines" opens with a sample from the "Night of the Living Dead" movie from 1968, setting the stage and atmosphere for the rest of the album. During the album there are a couple of atmospheric interludes and intros to songs, and a narrator is filling in the blanks of the story, that the lyrics to the tracks don´t tell.

Stylistically Deceased have more or less shed all their death metal influences and the material on "Fearless Undead Machines" are more old school thrash/speed metal and traditional heavy metal oriented. It´s not completely unlike for example early Necrophagia (maybe also because of the similar lyrical content), although Deceased are generally a bit more sophisticated and varied in their songwriting approach. Most tracks feature recognisable vers/chorus main structures, but almost all tracks break that formula and incorporate other types of sections and solo breaks, which often result in the songs being relatively long (six of them are longer than 6 minutes in playing time and the closing track "Destiny" is almost 10 minutes long). So it´s actually a pretty interesting combination of old school heavy metal elements and relatively adventurous song structures. I wouldn´t call this progressive, but because of the unconventional song structures it´s not completely wrong to say there are leanings.

Deceased are a well playing act (the guitar solos and themes should be mentioned as some of the highlights), and they opt for an organic playing style (especially the drumming has a nice loose feel to it). A playing style which impact is further enhanced by the raw, powerful, and organic sounding production. It´s definitely an album where the playing style and the production job are in perfect sync. Lead vocalist/drummer King Fowley has a raw voice and primal delivery, but there are no growling vocals on this album. The narration can be a little awkward, but given the already campy subject matter, the narration fits pretty well.

"Fearless Undead Machines" is an intriguing quality release by Deceased. The combination of stylistic elements, the skilled organic performances, and the raw and well sounding production, make the album an entertaining listening experience. The relatively adventurous/unconventional songwriting also makes the album interesting to listen to in the long run, as it´s a release you can find new details on every time you give it a spin. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.
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