Viva Le Pub Metal
With the current influx of 60/70's revival bands such as The Ga Ga's, The Glitterati and even the world's current favourite rock darlings Velvet Revolver and The Darkness, one would think its about damn time the 80's got back in on the act. This is where Sweden's Deceiver come in, getting right in your face with breath reeking of too many lagers and packets of Golden Wonder crisps saying 'Listen to us!' If you're expecting star-spangled cock rock though, you're in for a surprise. Deceiver bring back the old ways of Motorhead, Sabbath, Metallica and black daddies Venom, thrashing and slamming their guitars for all ten tracks on their first official full length album since their acclaimed self-titled M-CD. When listening to this album it brings up the immortal question that scares many poor folk out there: should we bring back the decade that time is desperately trying to forget?
The answer, my friends, is no. However, it has to be said there are many out there whom this album will appeal to. Reminding me of the type of 30-40 something year-olds in an old-school covers band at my local watering hole and the type of music 15 year old boys would listen because they think they're "'ard", this bunch of thrash metallers do exactly what is said on the tin. Claiming on their biography that they are 'not a bad copy/rip off band' and their music 'is the real stuff coming straight from the heart' the Swedes cannot be argued with. The influences can all be picked off as you listen to every track - the 'Welcome to Hell' era Venom on 'Raise Your Horns' to the Motorhead stylings of 'Crown of Deceit' they successfully pay homage to their roots and heroes without completely ripping them off. General eighties anxiety left to rest, Deceiver's 'Riding With The Reaper', upon closer inspection, is a good album that, if it finds the right fans, should serve them in good stead for the future.
A definite highlight of this debut is the intriguing 'Cover The Wounds'. Lasting just over 4 minutes, it seems to incorporate female vocals (or at least I think so, there was no mention of it on the inlay) and its Joan Jett-esque injection of defiance brings a breath of fresh air and originality. The guitars, solos included, flow seamlessly alongside the drumming and vocals giving us most likely the best track on the album next to 'Mexican Thunder' which, like its neighbour, brings the quality of the album up just a tad. 'Slay The Rainbow' could turn into every fluffy bunny hating, colour detesting grumps anthem as it chants its title to a background of fast paced, non stop thrash. Just when you think they're going to slow down and brood when tracks such as 'God of Dead' and 'Destroy 'em All' start off, the typical drums kick in and its all go. There are no sentimental bones in Deceiver, that's for sure - only solos, grunts and more solos.
Deceiver are good thrash metal and nothing more. Missionaries of perhaps a lost cause they might be, yet there's no denying that this album could very easily have fallen along the wayside of the try-hards and sub-standard revivalists. This bunch of beer-chugging Swedes needn't worry though. 'Riding With The Reaper' they might be, but the music certainly isn't.