HEADS FOR THE DEAD - Into the Red
Transcending Obscurity Records
Back in 2018 I sang the praises of the debut full length by HEADS FOR THE DEAD and for good reasons. The band featured multi instrumentalist Jonny Pettersson of Sweden's WOMBBATH as well as many other acts. Also there's vocalist Ralf Hauber who fronts Germany's long running REVEL IN FLESH. So if you're into worldwide death metal then you'd be chomping at the bit to get a hold of that release. Which in my not so humble opinion you should. It is just great fuckin death metal.
So two years later we have their follow up and added to the line-up this time around is drummer Ed Warby formerly of GOREFEST and HAIL OF BULLETS. OK so go ahead and toss around the term 'supergroup'. Personally I think the term has worn out it's relevancy in the grand scheme of metal. I believe that to be especially true in genre circles where musicians ordinarily perform in multiple bands.
With that said this band's second album here has a different feel from their debut. Yeah it's still full on death metal with atmospheric doom touches, more now than before. But the twelve cuts on here show HEADS FOR THE DEAD expanding their extreme metal plate. The band adds touches of black metal, grind as well as classic metal. All of which makes for a very interesting listen.
Ralf Hauber's vocals are absolutely sick whether it's his fire breath maul or maniacal screams. Combined with Jonny Pettersson's insane off the cuff riffing. I mean this guy is all over the place. Twelve cuts and not a repeated riff sequence. He also splices in some melodic solos as well as a throat cutter or two. Plus I gotta say Ed Warby is a far better drummer than the previous one on their debut. It's just the way he fills in with the more twisted cuts as well as insanely pounds away when needed.
If I was gonna push a negative towards this release I'd place it on their cover of DARKTHRONE's "Transilvanian Hunger". Just to be honest the song is played to perfection. I like Ralf Hauber's vocal style on it. But personally I don't care to hear classic black metal acts being covered. Sure you can make it sound better but then that takes away from the original which did have a fascination all it's own. Plus HEADS FOR THE DEAD don't need to upgrade someone else's music when they're already in a league of their own greatness.
LISTEN HERE:
https://headsforthedead.bandcamp.com/
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