Death Dealer has dealt a bonafide heavy metal death blow with its sophomore release, Hallowed Ground (released through Sweden Music Group). The word “supergroup” is mostly an overused cliché that gets thrown around way too often these days in the rock and metal world to describe a band with members from other prominent bands. Most of the so-called groups just don’t deliver and never usually last past the initial first album. 

However, Death Dealer, consisting of guitarist Ross "The Boss" Friedman (ex-Manowar, ex-Dictators, Dictators NYC), Halford-like screamer Sean Peck (Cage), Aussie shredder Stu Marshall (Empires Of Eden), bassist Mike Davis (Halford, ex-Lizzy Borden) and drummer Steve Bolognese (ex-Into Eternity), is out to prove that they can deliver the goods. Formed in 2012, the band has blazed a steady trail up to this point. According to Ross, things have been moving along as planned within the Death Dealer camp. 

“Honest to God Kelley, this has been moving so quickly and so well and it’s as exactly as we planned it,” Ross said. “We have a real record company and they’re treating us very well. As you can see, we have the video, we just finished a tour in Europe and went fantastically well and we did an arena tour where we were opening for Metal All Stars, which I was a part of. So in three years, we’ve come a long way and it’s going well. We’re on schedule.”

Death Dealer’s debut album, Warmaster, got some great reviews, including an 8.5 by yours truly on this very site. On Hallowed Ground, the band is as focused as ever. “Hallowed Ground is the eventual process of songwriting and maturation of a band, because when we did Warmaster, we never played together, we just wrote the record and recorded it. Now we have tours and gigs under our belt and the chemistry has gelled more within the band. So the songwriting I think is deeper.”

The first single/video “Break The Silence” is a spectacular site with the band ensconced in darkness except for a few well-placed bonfires and high-blasts of flames. Directed by renowned director Owe Lingvall in his native Sweden, the band had a blast shooting it. “Yeah, nothing like some fire!” Ross said enthusiastically. “Owe Lingvall is a very famous director and he was fantastic to work with. We filmed it in his back yard in Northern Sweden. It was actually pouring all week in the country and that day we were supposed to shoot, it cleared up.”

In addition to this standout track, there are many other chantable, anthemic rockers throughout Hallowed Ground. With the band’s chemistry, expertise, and workmanship, Death Dealer knows what it’s doing. Hooks and riffs reign supreme amongst the 13 tracks. “This is part of my mantra in life and music,” Ross said. “The most important thing to me is songs and hooks. I grew up in the pop culture of the ‘60s and ’70s and every hit single there was a hook. That stayed with me all my life. And I don’t think it should be any different even in metal, because there’s good music and there’s bad music and I like good music, and good music requires a hook. The band thinks so too, and together we’re writing some really catchy stuff.”

Due to geography, the band doesn’t get to rehearse much, and individual parts for Hallowed Ground were recorded separately in different studios just like its first album. It’s a process that the band has perfected now with their second release. 

“Geographically, that’s what has to happen,” Ross said. “Sean, Mike and Steve live in California, I live in New York and Stu lives in Sydney. For the most part, I’ll send a riff to Stu, then Stu will work on it and then send it to Sean and then he’ll send it to Mike and Steve to work on it. So basically ideas are festered within the band and they go through a channel and then they become songs. The Internet has basically offered us a chance to be Death Dealer, otherwise it would have been impossible. As bad things as the Internet does, like rob musicians and kill the music business, it has let us be a band.”

Every member of Death Dealer has been in the music biz for many years and their metal knowhow comes into play here. There’s absolutely no egos involved, and it shows in the songs. 

“The ego thing is nonexistent,” Ross stated. “This is like my 30th record I think, if I’m counting them all correctly, so I have nothing to prove to myself anymore. As far as guitar soloing and all that stuff, I told Stu right from the get-go that I am a band player and that I play the songs in a band, I’m not a solo star. Stu and I have this relationship where whatever is best for the song, that’s what makes it on the record. If I have to do the solo and I’m more suited for that song, I play it. And if Stu is more suited for it, then he plays it. Whatever makes the song, makes us feel better.”

Although Ross The Boss band is kaput, Ross’ first band, the innovative New York proto-punk band, the Dictators, has resurfaced as the Dictators NYC with Ross and original vocalist Handsome Dick Manitoba. The newly-reinvigorated band is blazing a trail on the touring circuit and have even recorded a brand new single, “Supply And Demand”. However, juggling Death Dealer, Dictators NYC, running a batting cage he owns in Queens as well as participating in the Metal All Stars, Ross is one busy-yet-happy clam. At the moment, Death Dealer is on a roll.

“I think Death Dealer is the preeminent band, and it’s the most important thing right now,” Ross concluded.