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Dead Head > Dream Deceiver > Reviews
Dead Head - Dream Deceiver

Dead Head - Dream Deceiver - 90%

Orbitball, October 14th, 2021
Written based on this version: 1993, CD, Bad Taste Recordings

I actually like this album more than their newer material! The music is better, so is the production and vocals. Quite an array of thrash galore and not so much death metal here, they seem to blend those two genres together. The vocals are a little different from what I'm used to, but the music is top notch! A lot of memorable riffs here and quite a sum of variety, too! Everything fit together on this release. Nothing seems to really lag, the energy is high up there. All 10 tracks are good, there weren't any that I though were lesser than others. They really seemed to put their creative juices to work on this one.

One thing that I won't get into are the lyrical concepts. Everything else I'm pretty open to on here. This is a second album I've heard from this band and I'm really liking what I'm hearing! The guitar riffs I've paid close attention to and I've concluded it's probably their best in existence! I took the liberty to find this on CD because I really want to hear it in my stereo, not nauseating headphones. They don't have a mountain full of followers nor press, so helping this band is the best way to show they mean business in the metal realm. I've done my part and if you're not convinced, it's your issue.

This is somewhat of an old-style production type of recording, but everything seemed to be mixed well! The guitars and vocals I paid most attention to. I've found that there's not an overabundance of lead guitar going around here, just enough. That's something I found fault in their more recent recordings. The rhythms were straightforward and somewhat technical. But they sure as hell made catchy riffs! They were pretty original in their songwriting. I didn't find much flaws in their playing, they were immaculate! The voice went well with the music! I've found the music to be the most likable aspect to this release.

As I've said, show some support to this band and buy the CD on eBay! It's worth it, to those who still have CD players! Spotify and YouTube both feature this album. I would take an hour out of your time and take a good listen to this release! It's worth your time. I wouldn't be urging you to do it if I didn't believe it to be true! Thrash galore and the riffs are hell of a lot of creative in this genre of metal! I'd like for this band to stay in existence for a while longer even if it just amounts to a few good releases. But like I said, I've found all the albums I've heard from this band to be palatable! Check them out!

Second marvellous album in a row - 95%

morbert, October 8th, 2007

There are three major differences from their previous album ‘The Feast Begins At Dawn’. Firstly there was a new drummer, Marco Kleinnibbelink (ex-Adetar), who was considerably more technical but less hyperactive than Hans Spijker was. Secondly the production was very professional (heavy, transparent) this time. And thirdly the album as a whole was less aggressive.

Don’t think it’s a laid back or cheesy album, because it still is Dead Head. Therefore with the first four tracks the Dead Head thrash metal assault we are used to, simply continues. These four songs are extremely catchy and tight thrashers and reason enough already to get your hand on this album. With songs such as ‘I Or The Needle’ and ‘Dying Angels’ the band once again proved they could also write some strong songs that were not entirely reliant on high tempi.

Although normally I’d find Hans Spijker’s typical drumming to be of great importance to the Dead Head sound, Marco Kleinnibbelink does a real good job here and especially gives an extra technical edge to the mid paced and slower material.

Dream Deceiver is a great, very diverse and very mature album. This album proved these guys could also play with finesse and surgical tightness instead of just raging. The use of samples from the Robert De Niro - Mickey Rourke movie ‘Angel Heart’ are also a great addition by the way.