The Last Ten Seconds of Life is sounding the call to arms. For this debut album on Metal Blade Records, Wyatt McLaughlin (guitar/keyboards), Tyler Beam (vocals), Andrew Petway (bass), and Dylan Potts (drums) didn’t hold back, collaborating with producers Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland at Pennsylvania’s Atrium Audio studio (Black Crown Initiate, Rivers of Nihil, Signs of the Swarm, A Wake in Providence, Lorna Shore, Shadow of Intent…). Welcome to The Dead Ones.
We dive straight into pure violence on The Dead Ones, the eponymous track with massive modern roots that make their riffs even groovier and more explosive, just like Tyler’s vocals as he screams like a demon escaped from hell. The noisy elements make the track even more suffocating, pushing the envelope before moving on to Make It to Heaven, a composition with an already heavy atmosphere that allows for a few more trippy parts on the chorus, but where the band welcomes David Simonich of Signs of the Swarm, becoming even more hellish. We continue into Rat Trap, a highly rhythmic track where the musicians are joined by Nate Johnson (formerly of Fit For an Autopsy) to bolster the vocal assault, creating an almost inhuman break before taking a darker turn once again with Freak Reflection and its unsettling intro. The track is a full-fledged mosh pit in and of itself, letting the guitar run wild at times with some harmonics, then 1-800-DO YOU WANT TO DIE? significantly picks up the pace, letting double bass drumming and fiery riffs hit us while the keyboards return to create a dark touch. The break becomes crushing once again, then the musicians rush us into Stiletto, maintaining the brutal and virulent energy that allows them to slow down at will, ensuring a fairly predictable and catchy rhythm, just like on Stereo, which hits hard and provides the band with a true weapon of mass destruction in a live setting. The same goes for Dollar to a Dime, the next track, where the riffs hit hard while giving space to Alan Grnja (Distant), who joins the band’s ranks; then there’s a touch of technicality on Corruption Concerto, particularly on the guitar, which quickly reveals its dissonance but still lets the vocalist lead the charge. We wrap up with XXXXXXXXXX, which, in addition to its groovy and effective rhythm section, delights longtime fans by bringing back Storm Strope, the original vocalist of The Last Ten Seconds of Life, who delivers a perfect duet with Tyler to close out the album.
The Last Ten Seconds of Life’s reputation precedes them, and with The Dead Ones, the band proves they’re ready to defend it with powerful weapons that will destroy your speakers but also ensure you can’t help but move to the music at a live show!
85/100