The Psyke Project - The Dead Storm
Rating
RIYL
The SecretCelestine
Knut
Release Date
08/24/2009
Label
Lifeforce RecordsTracklist
1. Fire Blizzards2. Dead People Never Lie
3. Stockholm Bloodbath
4. Mile High Pillars
5. Polaris
6. Forget The Forgotten
7. Winter
8. Storms Of The North
9. Men On Mountains
10. Utopia Is Not An Option
Users RatingCreate an account or log in to rate this album |
Your RatingCreate an account or log in to rate this album |
Denmark’s finest return with their fourth full-length album, the generically named The Dead Storm, bringing with it 52 minutes of oppressive heft and low-end destruction. Despite a strong following in their Danish homeland, The Psyke Project has operated in relative obscurity within the American music scene since their formation in 2001. Their last release, Apnea, was re-released by Lifeforce Records to critical acclaim but made only a ripple in the metal community. Carefully honing their craft for almost ten years, the Danes' newest release will hopefully put them on the map and into the ears of metal fans worldwide.
The Psyke Project culls much of their sound from the heavier moments of Cult of Luna’s discography and blends them with the vitriolic intensity of Converge to create something surprisingly cohesive and listenable. The group’s sound begs for some kind of “post-“ label due to the varied nature of the group’s songwriting and the occasional melodic interjection buried beneath the tidal riffing. Lurching along at a somewhat tempered pace for much of the album, the group frequently jerks into chaotic sections somewhat reminiscent of the like-minded Italian group The Secret.
Originally rooted more firmly in hardcore at the beginning of their career, the group operates with an intensity lacking in the music of many of their genre compatriots. Even within the more tranquil moments lies something darker, something more sinister patiently waiting to emerge. “Dead People Never Lie” offers the most cathartic example, slowly building from a brooding introduction into a layered hailstorm of sonic destruction. Few tracks on the album reach such the high level of devastation exuded by this song, though “Cursed with Care” and “Stockholm Bloodbath” certainly come close.
With only one song less than four minutes, and slightly monotonous vocals, The Psyke Project can at times come across as slightly long-winded. Listeners with a shorter attention span will likely have trouble sifting through the group’s more expansive moments to uncover the scathing aggression lying within, though it would be a mistake to give The Dead Storm only a passing listen. Far from a clone of the many celebrated post metal acts, The Psyke Project has provided many fine moments over the course of their discography, and I for one will be anxiously anticipating what they have to offer next.
--Matt Murphy
Comments