Deadguy : "Near-Death Travel Services"

 

30 years after Victory Records hardcore band Deadguy cemented their legendary status with their album "Fixation on Coworker ". The band is not just back to reaffirm their relevance; this album has the benefit of 2025 production value, so it sounds far better than the more metallic guitar sound they debuted with. This makes for an album that is heavier with the guitars creating a more organic wall of sound. They hit you with a more fully realized onslaught. The vocals did retain their command, which has always been similar to Henry Rollins in their confrontational tone.

Some might want them to pick up where they left off, despite this being a superior sound. If they make it all the way to "New Best Friend" and are still under this delusion, there is nothing the band or anyone else can do for them, as they are likely stuck back in 1995. This album is also darker when they turn things in a more ominous direction. "Cheap Trick" does not find them slowing with age, though the drummer is smart enough to ebb and flow with grooves rather than hammer you into a numbed submission. 

"The Forever People" finds around to wisely find a different course of attack rather than just battering your ears with the same fury. More often than not, they have been keeping things at an angry thrashing speed for the first half of this album. The first song that feels more like the first album is "War With Strangers," but it still sounds way better thanks to the improved production value. "Knife Sharpener" is the first song where the high intensity overwhelms the mood, when a groove might have held more value. There is a more punk feel to "The Alarmist". They do however, find the groove to contrast the more in-your-face moments and create a dynamic balance. 

The more Slayer-like riffs for "The Long Search for Perfect Timing" keep things varied enough to be interesting. The drumming is really great on this album. There is a more traditional metal feel to "All Stick No Carrot" that feels a little more like the first album. "Wax Princesses" starts off with more of a noise rock vibe before getting heavier. They ahow the Chat Piles of the world what the fuck is up. I'll go ahead and round this up to a 10 after all how rare is it for a band to come back better? Out June 27th on Relapse Records.  

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