Title: Maelstrom
Artist: Dead Turns Alive
Genre: Industrial / Synthpop / Electronica
Release Date: 27th April 2010
Label: Vendetta Music
Album Review
DEAD TURNS ALIVE started in 1998 as the solo project of Michael Enning who released the debut album, entitled ‘Salvation and Despair-The First Four Years’ in 2002. But due to some problems the project vanished from sight for several years but now comes back with the new record called ‘Maelstrom’.
The songs on the CD vary a lot in their own sound but in general they all have definite common elements to be united in one music stream. The opening piece is a quite driving track that starts with a mere electronic intro which gradually turns into an intricate composition, full of diverse sonic effects. The catchy chorus that is sung both in English and German also makes a great contribution to the impression produced by the song and helps to create a peculiar and rather enigmatic atmosphere which smoothly flows into the next track. This time it feels like the sound comes from everywhere and echoes preserve the mystery that remains until the very end of the composition. ‘Someone Had to Die’ pleases with its lyrics, because the music here is also good, but the verses still seem a little bit loose, while the following song surprises with the addition of female vocals and the simple melody easily sticks in the memory.
Actually, the material on the album doesn’t suffer from excessive complexity and doesn’t contain too many features of pretentiousness, so when you are listening to the CD, there’s no feeling of boredom and your brain doesn’t start bursting. In this sense, the most revealing track could be ‘Love Is Lost’, which is not complicated but very expressive and accessible. The beginning of ‘Tonight’ immediately brings associations with the rain pattering against the window, the peals of thunder and then it feels like dusk is falling. ‘Har Meggido’ begins with an alarm and then the music probably describes the last day of earth, Armageddon or something like that, however the melody isn’t dark or gloomy at all.
On the album there also rather qualitative remixes can be found, yet I prefer the original versions of the songs. All in all, ‘Maelstrom’ is an interesting work with a slight laid-back feel that will suit the tastes of all lovers of electronic music!
Tracklist
01. S.I.N. - 5:05
02. The Serpent’s Chant - 6:04
03. Someone Had to Die - 5:00
04. Fading Away - 3:50
05. Love Is Lost - 5:20
06. Tonight - 4:43
07. Re-Birth - 4:55
08. We Say - 4:25
09. Final Words - 3:34
10. Har Meggido - 4:36
11. Effigy of Gehenna - 4:03
12. The Serpent’s Chant (BAK XIII Remix) - 6:02
13. Tonight (November Process Remix) - 6:26
14. The Serpent’s Chant (Brain Leisure Remix) - 5:32
15. Love Is Lost – (Revolution State Remix) - 5:34
16. Fading Away (Necrotek Remix) - 3:14
Line-up
Micha - Music, Vocals
Website
http://www.myspace.com/deadturnsalive
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 8
Extras: -
Total: 8 / 10
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