Dead Sun needs no introduction.
Officially active since 1996 and led by Rogga Johansson (guitar/bass/vocals, Paganizer, Echelon, Heads for the Dead, Grisly, Megascavenger, Necrogod, Putrevore, Revolting, Stass), he now calls on Thomas Ohlsson (drums, House by the Cemetery, Stass, ex-The Project Hate MCMXCIX) for his ninth album, This Life Is a Grave, with the help of Emanzipation Productions.
Primordial Knowledge (Where Ubbo-Sathla Reign) starts off with a melancholic touch, but the two musicians are quick to remind us that their violent roots are not far away, whether through the rhythm section or Rogga‘s growls. Swedish influences naturally blend the two parts of their universe before joining Embraced By The Succubus, where leads become hypnotic, as if to make us feel the embrace while the jerky rhythm progresses. The foundation remains solid and accompanies our wandering before A Midnight Serenade takes over with a sharper approach thanks to screeching harmonics, creating a contrast with the much more melodious choruses. The title easily gets us nodding our heads, just like Sin Collector, which immediately caught my attention with its visceral scream launching the assault before laying its ethereal dissonance on a solid foundation. The harmonics float easily until the final moments, then Nighttime Butterfly offers us a much more accessible sound, thanks in particular to the groovy bass that accompanies the track, giving us much calmer passages in contrast to She Drank My Soul, which returns to piercing riffs. The duo still maintains its melodious leads with impeccable mastery, as does the heavier mosh part before the break, which allows the arrival of the last chorus to be delayed, then the atmosphere calms down again with Your Life Is A Grave, the eponymous track, which doesn’t hesitate to exploit every possible contrast to bring its intensity to life. The double kick energizes the song before giving way to Calls From The Crypt and its mysterious tones that haunt a catchy base, but To Give The End A Voice kicks in and closes the album with a final dose of aggression mixed with intricate guitar work and unifying moments.
Dead Sun‘s longevity speaks for itself, and even if This Life Is a Grave doesn’t reinvent the style, it offers a handful of catchy compositions faithful to its Swedish roots. No surprises, just riffs!
75/100