THE DEAD WORD

This is my second album from Deadsoul Tribe - it's like a retrospective because I now their newest album "A Lullaby for The Devil" (2007) first before this one. This album is not as unique as the newest one but I still joy in enjoying this album especially in its ambient heavy riffs and the Tool like music. Lyric is still one of the key attractions to this album. You can find inspiring lyric in "A Flight on an Angel's Wing".

Deadsoul Tribe was founded in 2000 by Devon Graves, former member of Psychotic Waltz. A year later the debut album Deadsoul Tribe was released and proved to be a success with former Psychotic Waltz fans and beyond. Graves is the singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose music is both philosophical and challenging. Everything I write has a message, an approach to poetry, he says. It's the major function of poetry not to provide answers, but to raise questions - to be thought provoking and to create space for individual interpretations. Together with drummer Adel Moustafa, who also plays the drums on the records, the guitarist Roland `Rollz` Kerschbaumer and bass player Roland Ivenz, Deadsoul Tribe is known for their stirring stage performance. [official DsT site]. Devon made an original concept for Deadsoul Tribe in 1999 and he acted as Songwriter, Producer, Lead Guitar, Lead Vocalist, Overlord. His favorites range from Jethro Tull to Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Hendrix and Zappa.

Music that's full of joys .

This album in general sounds like a Tool album. The opening track "Prelude: Time and Pressure"(1:40) creates an excellent ambient that sets the tone for the whole album with a kind like Pink Floyd style. Adel Moustafa enters his percussion and drumming work that creates tribal nuances like the music from South Africa. This remarks the entrance to "A Flight on an Angel's Wing" (4:31) which flows nicely with excellent melody and great riffs and percussion. Devon sings powerfully. "To My Beloved. "(5:56) starts nicely with walking basslines combined with howling guitar and rhythmic percussion accompanying low register notes vocal line. Bass guitar and percussion sound like the main rhythm section of the music with practically minimum riffs at the opening. The riffs only come when Devon sings high register notes in the middle of the track.

"Don't You Ever Hurt?" (4:56) brings the music into faster tempo with Floydian guitar solo and heavy riffs. I like the music that changes into different style at approx minute 3 where guitar riffs have changed into more stimulating sound followed by a break with Floydian guitar style. "Some Sane Advice" (3:57) starts nice with acoustic guitar which accompanies vocal. It reminds me to the kind of soft music of Opeth. "Let the Hammer Fall" (4:03) starts off with heavy guitar riffs followed by dynamic drumming. Well, I really love the guitar riffs. "Waiting in Line" (6:34) opens with guitar riffs followed with a heavy music and later on with a break where Devon plays his flute beautifully (hemmm .. finally he plays the flute! Something I have been waiting for from first track).

"Someday" (1:34) is a short but catchy track with piano and vocal line. It then flows to great percussion-based music that remarks the start of "My Dying Wish" (4:01). Musically, this is the most NOT metal song from this album with powerful yet simple lyrics. On the day I die / Don't pray for me / Soulstealer. In the place I lye / Set me free / Soulstealer. "A Fistful of Bended Nails" (5:25) brings the music back into normal style with bass guitar makes an opening mark followed by ambient percussion / drums work. Again, bass guitar and percussion seem like being the main rhythm section of the music. The concluding track "The Long Ride Home" (4:20) is another excellent track with heavy musical riffs. I like the bass guitar solo augmented by drums in the middle of the track and then followed wonderfully by flute work. Oh man .. this is FABULOUS!!!! Two thumbs up for the composition!

Overall, even though this album is less challenging than the last album "A Lullaby for The Devil" I still find that the composition is tight and it's an excellent addition to any prog music collection. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW (i-Rock! Music Community)