ALBUM REVIEW: Dååth - The Deceivers

The Deceivers will be released May 3rd on Metal Blade Records

Progressive death metal band Dååth have awoken from its dark slumber after thirteen years with the release of the band's fifth album The Deceivers through Metal Blade Records. Guitarist Eyal Levi said in a recent interview with Blabbermouth describing the band's new album as "having more orchestration and more over the top, along with more melodies with the album". After a long wait from the fans, and the rise of amazing death metal releases from last year, is Dååth's new album a mighty and heavy return for this classic death metal act?

Album opener "No Rest No End" starts with atmospheric clean guitars and dual harmonies. Then, the grandiosity and scale of the production intensifies. With HUGE orchestration by Jesse Zuretti, along with himself, Eyal Levi and Rafael Trujillo on guitars, the riff just gives heavy as all hell from the get go. Vocalist Sean Zatorsky's gravely and gritty screams into the chugging bass of David Marvuglio, djent guitars and Krimh on drums is just punishing. I love the granduer in the band's sound just in the track along. Impressive arrangement, musical composition and a complete overhaul of the band's sound. Krimh's drum have so much power and punch in the mix, especially when the double bass gets going throughout the track. This would be the first of two appearance of Spiro Dussias of Platonist on the album. A complex and strong opening track.

Following that is "Hex Unending" and features Dan Sugarman of Ice Nine Kills on the track. The triple guitar attack of Zuretti, Levi and Trujillo can really be heard in the opening. With the pummeling riff, pounding drums and epic scale of orchestra pieces behind it, the song just takes a life of it's own. The song still has elements of Dååth's industrial/groove elements in the guitar playing at some points, but the band has just exceeded that groove to lean more into the progressive and melodic death metal sound, with elements of deathcore. It completely fits on this track and shows the band's perfect melding of the genres into a unique track showcasing not only the band's growth, but evolution.

Ascension, features Dean Lamb of  rising tech-death act Archspire, opens with a pummeling melodic death metal riff. Accompanied by orchestral accents and layered "Ay" growl vocals. The machine-gun style riff and double bass behind it is so impactful in the mix, and when it goes into the blast beats is so good. An impressive and dynamic guitar solo at the halfway mark really shows the depth and talent of the musicianship of this album. Then, the slow down, atmospheric guitar section right after it, reminds me of late Death records. With its very progressive guitar playing and returning of the band to the track, instantly reminds me of The Sound of Perserverance-era Death. With mixes of progressive metal, melodic death metal and orchestra, the band's sound has really powerful and an insanely good direction for the band. "With Ill Desire" continues the onslaught of aggressive opening guitars. The snarl in Zatorsky's vocals are so phlegmy and aggressive in its snarl and pitch, its so damn good. With the band firing on all cylinders, the song is just punishing, intricate, and forceful in it's musicianship and delivery in its sound. The down-tuned, djent like guitars under the solo after the halfway mark, into dual harmonies, is so damn good and instantly had me stank-facing as it kicked in.

Next is "The Silent Foray"  and features Per Nilsson of Scar Symmetry on the track. I love the opening drum fills by Krimh, with a more up-tempo opening triple guitar attack. Zatorsky's cry to the skies vocals are so powerful and punchy in the track. Especially with the underlying double bass by Krimh. With the addition of Nilsson on the track, the riff just gets heavier and just unrelenting in its ferocity. The spacey, sci-fi orchestral piece with guitars at the halfway mark, really show the impressive scoring of the band. Before returning to the aggressive progressive, melodic death metal sound of the track. A little after the five minute mark, we get a return to the band's industrial death metal sound. With ambient choir, distorted industrial noises and drums, then returns to the modern production and style of the album. On "Unwelcome Return", we get the second appearance of Dussias on the album. Another beautiful, clean guitar tone opening starts the track, before blast beats and anthemic horns start the song off with a punch to the face. The riff machine of three guitarists and the pounding drums of Krimh is showcasing the band's continued evolution with progressive metal elements. With unique speed up/slow down pacing, intense riffing and all over the place drum strikes, it is another great example of the band's new direction and I am ALL IN!

"Purified By Vengeance", featuring Mark Holcomb of Periphery & Mick Gordon, is next. A more groove opening riff with atmospheric, other-worldly sounding ambience in the opening. Reminiscent of Dethklok at certain parts, but with an epic orchestra behind it. The guitars are so pummeling and aggressive in the mix. The halfway mark also has a nice contrast of atmospheric strings, clean guitars, and chugging palm muted riffs. A great shredtacular guitar solo near the close of the song is just all over the fretboard, as the song wraps up in a pummeling, double bass sprint. Mixed with aggressive guitars and even operatic high vocals as it closes. On "Deserving of The Grave", the song opens with another drum fill opening by Krimh. I love the rising guitars, matching the building string section behind it. The track also features Jeff Loomis on guitars. The production on the song is so well mixed. Everything can be heard and nothing dominating the mix. With so many layers of instrumentation, it really fills the space of the song's mix. I LOVE the djent, odd time-signature section near the halfway mark. The guttural vocals by Zatorsky after the halfway mark, are so deep and layered and heavy, adding more power to his vocals. Loomis' solo is technical & proficient. With the strings section behind him & the band adding depth to his playing, it is one hell of a solo. Possibly my favorite of the year so far. Loomis can do no wrong on the guitar. The album's closing track "Into Forgotten Dirt" is an opening chugging fest instantly reminding me of Strapping Young Lad. The strings matchng the palm-muted chugging guitars is just such a great mixture. With djent heavy down-tuned guitars, atmospheric strings and choir, unrelenting drums and complex guitar solos, it is a dramatic, impressive and overall perfect close to the new evolution of Dååth.

The Deceivers is a true final-form of what Dååth wanted to take their sound. The sheer evolution and scale of the mix is astounding at some points. Similar to how Devin Townsend does his. With layers and layers of instrumentation, vocal arrangements and string sections. All while delivering pummeling and brutal death metal, infused with deathcore, melodic death and progressive metal, the album is just a true immersion into new uncharted waters for Dååth and I don't wanna leave those waters. Dååth delivered a beast of a record, and I know for sure will most likely make a lot of best of 2024 lists.

SCORE: 10 / 10

1) No Rest No End (feat. Spiro Dussias of Platonist)

2) Hex Unending (feat. Dan Sugarman of Ice Nine Kills)

3) Ascension (feat. Dean Lamb of Archspire)

4) With Ill Desire

5) The Silent Foray (feat. Per Nilsson of Scar Symmetry)

6) Unwelcome Return (feat. Spiro Dussias of Platonist)

7) Purified By Vengeance (feat. Mark Holcomb of Periphery & Mick Gordon)

8) Deserving of The Grave (feat. Jeff Loomis)

9) Into Forgotten Dirt

FFO: Chimaira, Fear Factory, Strapping Young Lad