Conceptually covering Ukrainian history of the twenty-first century is Dead Shot Revival. Not so much an album as it is a conceptual piece of art that reflects the world they inhabit, beauty marked by violence, the heaviest of deathened doom metal punctuated by melody. With a revamped line-up that has risen from adversity like a phoenix from ash, the Ukrainian outfit has released a stunning opus, the first in their native language and their third overall.
Truthful and full of emotion ‘INII’ is a track that builds and builds, its growth a multidimensional piece of art that is peppered by anguished vocals, a superb guitar solo escapes the barren yet relentless rhythm that tethers the track to the underground. ‘’Kamin’’ is more inexorable punishment in the grandest of ways, its spoken word a seductive nitro into a keyboard-led expression of utter heaviness and introspection. The keyboards then fly briefly into a cosmic wonderland before they return to a scorched earth. The riffs are as crushing as the expressive and at times gorgeous solos, Roman Kostiuchenko’s native guttural vocals are delivered with utter commitment, and the keyboards are revelatory, lurking, their texture a formidable component to an impressive musical force. ‘’Dym” is a seven minute plus piece of aggressive art that littered with militaristic percussion and the exemplary guitar work of Mykhailo Chuha and Maria Vynohradska is superb. From riff to solo and back again. ‘’Pisok” epitomises the struggle against external forces and eternal defiance against tyranny.
Surprising demanding, and wildly original. Dead Shot Revival is the heaviest of doom metal that expresses the gravitas of the real, punctuated by some haunting melody it is a remarkable thought-provoking achievement that lingers long after it is played, demands repeated listening and deserves to be celebrated as a musical accomplishment.
Mental Torment: Facebook
Release Year: 2024
Label: self-released
Category: Album
Country: Ukraine
Reviewed by Sparky
