For all of you Modern Melodic Progressive fans, today brings a band from the shores of Gothenburg, Sweden. Named, Deceptic, their beginnings started in 2011 when the three founding members strived to create music that is unheard of, something that would make one think twice. By the end of the year, the first official lineup was born and their debut EP was released as well. The following year, the band begun to write material for this debut album, but unfortunately two of the members departed due to difficult circumstances. Upon the recruitment of two new members, not too long after that, the band was invited to play the biggest metal festival in Sweden, Metaltown. From then on, they realized now that the band was much more than a hobby, making a real career from it, to live music as an everyday job. Sadly, the last two members to join the group departed to focus on other things in life and to grow as people, so the original founding trio decided to continue on and focus more on the album, taking their time and finalzing it with some producers famous for working with bands such as Dir En Grey, The Haunted, Dark Tranquility, Mnemic, and more. As of now, the group recruited two local musicians to their group and now all share a passion, genuine skill and energy for sharing and playing the stage. The group cites bands such as Soilwork, TesseracT, Periphery, Mnemic, Pantera, Tool, In Flames and more as part of their influences. Ready to release their debut album, The Artifact, on August 29th, they are ready to tour wherever and whenever, this is where the real journey of Deceptic begins.
A befitting way to kickoff their debut album, Heart Of The Swarm, is easily one of my favorites of the album. Lead vocalist, William Gustafsson, does an astonishing job of keeping the melodic vocals intact, among talented technique. The guitars keep a perfectly executed tone, just enough of the guitars were present, no overwhelming riffs and onslaught. Overall the composition of the opening track is superb. Oceans, has it’s high set of changing rhythm sections, pleasurable guitar melodies and touches of progressive manners that set a sound that Deceptic are catering innovatively to the masses. One of the more melodic related tracks, A World Unknown, also comes with it’s highly driven changes and breaks. Moreso melodically apt, personally speaking, any measures of melody are favorable. Classic vintage-sounding In Flames sounds bring us into the track, The Shining Throne. Highly influenced by the Gothenburg metal elements, another band comes to mind when I hear this track, Soilwork. The track, Lead Astray, brings back the empowering vocal talents of lead man, William Gustafsson. The clean and gutteral vocal shifts are quick and smoothly transitioned on this track, and really overall on the album.
[tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfsoZx8k9fw[/tube]
I was receiving hints of Melodeath in the track, Depraved. The lead vocals are as murderous as they get in this one and the instrumentals are almost true with the Swedish Metal scene. Just when I didn’t think the melody of these tracks wouldn’t get even more intimate and truer to their native metal connections, the track, Smorgasbord of Shame, maintains a balance of Death metal elements and their staple sound on the album. The Whah guitaring really adds only more dimension and outlooks on the group. Reborn, is undoubtedly the most melodic and astral track of the album. The track alone deems them oh so worthy of sharing the stage with some of these other bigger named Progressive Acts. Check it out. A more groovy affair completes The Artifact with the track, Life Finds A Way. The eargasmic melodic progression just after the halfway mark puts the band in another light, one that certainly I underestimated. The track has a slight raw edge to it, but nonetheless, a more appropriate way to end the album with. No fade outs, just a normal final cut.
The album gave me much more insight into the genre of Modern Melodic Progressive Metal. I find the album felt complete, showcasing enough talent and skill to be deemed worthy of listening to. In addition, the structural aspect is finite, especially with the group’s well executed complexity of it’s rhythms changes and more. The sound quality is done very professionally and the technique is very well done, to show that they have been practicing for many a time, for a while now. A mostly decent album to debut with, I too would feel most proud of this album to set my initial mark on. The young multi-talented musicians known as Deceptic, continue to push a genre that is growing and gaining immense popularity. Stay Metal m/
The Artifact: 8/10
More information can be found on their Official Website, as well as their Official Facebook Page. Don’t forget to ‘LIKE’ We Love Metal Dot Com on our Facebook Page as well.
The Metal Alchemy 