There’s an indefinable something about LA rockers Deathchant that makes them a very interesting prospect indeed. On the face of it they are just another in the long line of American space/psych/desert rock outfits currently vying for you ear’s attention and the contents of your wallet. But scratch a little deeper and you’ll something far more sonically satisfying awaits.
TJ Lemieux (who also contributes vocals) and Doug Stuckey make for a dynamic pairing, especially if Robertson/Gorham-era Thin Lizzy gets you hot under the collar, and they come up with consistently engaging guitar work throughout, often giving songs a real shot in the arm with their dynamic interplay.
This is all well and good, but nothing particularly out of the ordinary. However the addition of Lemieux’s voice to the mix busts the game wide open, adding amazing texture and spice. Cleverly mixed a little way back from the guitars, his throaty roar becomes another instrument on it’s own, complementing the axes and ramping up the drama. At times, as the dual guitars squall and bicker whilst Lemieux lets rip, it sounds like nothing so much as Motörhead duking it out with Thin Lizzy, which I’m sure you’ll agree is a tantalising prospect.
But for all the nostalgic signposts the band erect as they go about their business, you have to note that ultimately they’ve carved a pretty unique sound for themselves overall. Crucially, the band let the songs rule the roost, following the flow to see where they end up rather than imposing any sort of stylistic regime on them beyond using guitars,bass and drums. It’s straightforward, yes, but not simplistic. As the band unfurl the wondrous Mirror from the speakers, everything swings into focus and the band make perfect sense. Sometimes going back to the past reveals the future in all it’s glory, and on the basis of this album I’d say Deathchant’s future might be very glorious indeed.
Thrones releases on October 13th.
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