There’s been a few changes in the Deadlock camp which means that there has been a certain amount of pressure on the German melodic groovers of late. First they lost original male vocalist Johannes Prem meaning that bassist John Gahlert was forced to shift position and take over in his place and now just after last album The Arsonist we have had drummer Tobias Graf upping sticks and leaving new recruit Werner Reidl taking his place. So what they have decided to do is not only give us a taste of some new material with a few songs on this album but also go back and re-record a load of old ones, showing off the talents of the latest line-up in the process. I should also mention that if you pick this up on a double disc you also get a stack of demo tape recordings and other rarities from the group’s career but as these were not included on my review download obviously I won’t be commenting further on them. Anyway there is more than enough to keep me occupied on the first 68 minute disc as it is.
First up is a new number and ‘An Ocean’s Monument’ quickly slaps in with its bass heavy juddering groove and thrusts itself straight in your face. It’s instantly identifiable and just a couple of plays have it sounding as familiar as the old stuff. Gahlert is quite prolific in the growling stakes and has upped his ante as he gets more used to his parts but to me the male vocals have always been somewhat superfluous as all focus goes on Sabine Scherer who became one of my favourite female singers on my very first encounter with her. There are some interesting choral parts and the band mix the core elements with symphonic textures brilliantly here. Next is one of the re-arrangements and ‘Code Of Honour’ has Heaven Shall Burn’s Marcus Bischoff joining in on vocals. I am not one of those people who sit with two versions of a song cued up to list all the differences, life’s too damn short but there are things that can be picked up here and on all the remixes, added elements, more force in some parts and added keyboard embellishments in others. What is apparent is that the band obviously seem to have really enjoyed going back to the older songs and no doubt got plenty of focus and energy out of them (especially the remaining founding members) and this comes across in the songs. There are plenty of moments where songs start and I am quickly beaming and thinking “ooh it’s that one” such is the case with ‘The Brave / Agony Applause’ and there’s a wealth of favourites mostly stemming back to 2007 album ‘Wolves’ and beyond.
After a stomping and gorgeous in equal measures ‘Virus Jones’ we get to another new one and by name it certainly makes a statement. ‘A New Era’ has plenty of powerful and muscular grooves but its Sabine’s vocals soaring over the top that bring a shiver down the spine. It’s powerful, life affirming and completely uplifting, a song that should be prescribed to counter the effects of depression and if it’s a taste of things to come I’m all ears. But let’s not forget the power of the old ones as the sublime guitar soloing on ‘We Shall All Bleed’ takes you over its impossible not to play along. Not sure I remember the acoustic classic guitar outro on it either but it works really well. ‘Awakened By The Sirens 2014’ dips the furthest back in time to 2005 Earth.Revolt’ album and guiltily reminds me how long it is since I gave it a spin. It’s a thumping rendition with a hefty bombast bolstered by some great underlying electronic parts. Everything leads to last intriguingly entitled newbie The Arsenic River at 7 minutes a fairly lengthy number which after hitting the brutality levels hard goes into a gentle lilting sing along part and then repeats, never running out of steam and finishing what could have just been a three track EP but has delivered so much more in style.
I’m not a huge fan of reissues, remixes and other such packages to be honest there’s too much new stuff to discover or great old albums that need a fresh listen to but this is one that I have really enjoyed. I guess it’s partly as Deadlock never seem to put a foot wrong and it’s not often that I listen to something this uplifting. Perhaps with the weather it could be heatstroke but whatever there’s no denying what a damn good listen The Re-Arrival is.
(8/10 Pete Woods)
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