MADDER MORTEM - Deadlands
March 5, 2003, 21 years ago
(The End/Century Media)
Goth metal's been making a bit of a comeback as of late, with My Dying Bride crooning old-school and the Lacuna Coil/Flowing Tears contingent making some waves. But, with all due respect to My Dying Bride, the goth sound we've all come to know and cry to has effectively been rendered antiquated by Madder Mortem. Taking the weepy base of goth and flipping it completely upside-down, these Norwegians espouse all the dirge-obsessed trademarks of Anathema or even a band like Bauhaus (remember them?) but transpose these elements over semi nu-school production methods. Dirty, greasy tones are abound on this record, but the fact remains that the album is equally as inspired by early-'80s freaks like Echo & The Bunnymen or Joy Division. This review is confusing me as much as it's probably confusing you, and that's a testament to Madder Mortem's completely different and unique sound. Deadlands is nothing if un-nerving, hinting at a brand-new, unexplored avenue for metal.
