HEADS FOR THE DEAD - The Great Conjuration review

 

HEADS FOR THE DEAD - The Great Conjuration

Transcending Obscurity Records

A few years back multi-instrumentalist Jonny Pettersson of Sweden's WOMBBATH, as well as many other acts, and vocalist Ralf Hauber of Germany's REVEL IN FLESH decided to team up for a side project. So with the help of a few other friends enter HEADS FOR THE DEAD which put out an amazing death metal debut, Serpent's Curse, in 2018.

Since then the duo, and friends, have been consistent by putting out a follow-up full length, Into the Red, from 2020. There's also a Halloween themed EP, Slash 'n' Roll, from last year. That was a fun little five cut release with three originals and two covers. But for me I wanted to hear another full length since HEADS FOR THE DEAD are lately one of my favorite DM acts. 

So here we go with the band's third full length release. Along with Pettersson and Hauber there's Matt Moliti on guitars from SENTIENT HORROR and WOMBBATH drummer Jon Rudin. Yeah there's definitely an international thing going on here with Sweden, Germany, England and the US represented. 

Musically The Great Conjuration is a diabolical sounding release. The ten cuts on here devour you like a huge beast. Pettersson comes in with a bag of riffs and song structures that leave you bewildered or punished. To me it's like GRAVE meets early IMMOLATION with a touch of epic melody. The added keyboards to a few cuts gives em a grand scale touch. 

Of course Hauber has the perfect voice for this sort of thing. Matt Moliti adds just the perfect type of solos on here. No dive-bombing or over the top standing out. Just a perfect melodic touch like icing on a filth ridden cake. And of course Jon Rudin's drum work is just plain complimentary to each cut.

Hey they say the third time's the charm. As much as I like this band's first two full lengths. The Great Conjuration is without a doubt the best of the trio. On here HEADS FOR THE DEAD is not just the product of various pieces. Now they stand out on their own in greatness.

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://headsforthedead.bandcamp.com/album/the-great-conjuration-death-metal

HEADS FOR THE DEAD - Into the Red review

 

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.

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://headsforthedead.bandcamp.com/

HEADS FOR THE DEAD - Serpent's Curse review

HEADS FOR THE DEAD - Serpent's Curse  

Transcending Obscurity Records




I'm having a problem as to classifying this one. Is it a super-group, a side project, who knows? Basically this is the work / creation of multi instrumentalist Jonny Pettersson. Now he's been in many acts that I've never heard of but I do know he's in Sweden's WOMBBATH. 


The second person of note in this musical project is vocalist Ralf Hauber. Now if you're a fan of Euro death metal then you probably know he fronts Germany's long running REVEL IN FLESH. If you don't then I suggest you pick up a copy of their Emissary of All Plagues full length from a few years ago. 


Now adding fuel to this fire Pettersson has also enlisted fellow WOMBBATH band mate Hakan Stuvemark as well as Matt Moliti from SENTIENT HORROR to lay down a few guitar solos. Finally on drums there's Erik Bevenrud who spends time in another super-group / side project I've written about previously, DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN. 


So now that we've named all the players, what is this thing musically. Well supposedly this is the debut album by Pettersson & company (which means there will be more) and it's straight up death metal. Well more to the point it's a more horrific bent influenced version of old school Swedish death metal. Like seeing ENTOMBED on Halloween. 


Now I know there will be people reading this thinking "Swedish DM? Heard it all before." And I believe you'd be missing out since for starters Ralf Hauber is an amazing DM vocalist. He is a major contributor to this release being more than average. Secondly Pettersson's song writing follows the genre's left hand path of fiery fast riff cuts to slower moody doom passages. And of course with the two guest guitar slingers adding lines that cut through any type of boredom. So like I referred to earlier this is not to be overlooked.


https://tometal.com/

https://headsforthedead.bandcamp.com/album/serpents-curse-death-metal

https://www.facebook.com/headsforthedead/