Dead Head – Shadow Soul [EP]

If Dead Head has proven anything over their extensive career it definitely is that keeping your musical course straight can be very much rewarding. Apart from the very early steps of the band, which can be considered more Death Metal influenced than their later work, Dead Head has pigheadedly kept doing what they do best: thrashing your head in with each and every song on each and every album. This year, the band celebrates the joyous fact that they have been doing so non-stop for 35 years, and they put that to good use with the release of this new EP. Eight new songs, together accounting for just under half an hour of the tried and tested Dead Head formula of überthrash. The enthusiast couldn’t have wished for a better treat.

The clear downside of almost religiously staying as close as possible to your game, at least for the reviewer, is that it is hard to pen down anything that is not repeating what has already been said. But, then again, if Dead Head is not minding to delve into the same pond over and over again, why should I? And… did Lemmy ever give a damn?

Alright, ‘Shadow Soul’ might not surprise or serve anything, but it does exactly what it was set out to do. It is another display of power, strength beyond strength, a master class in Thrash Metal. If you heard any of Dead Head’s material after 1999’s magnificent ‘Kill Division’, you know what that means: razor sharp riffs, blistering pace, screaming guitar leads and furiously snarly vocals. While it might not be original, it meticulously pays homage to bands like Dark Angel, Sadus, Kreator and mid-period Slayer. Furious and with a heavy foot on the accelerator, but even though Dead Head has built its entire existence around the RIFF, the band always manages to bring in plenty of dynamics that it sounds both recognisable and varied enough.

After 35 years of loyal service and with this fresh new ‘Shadow Soul’-EP there is no need for a thorough and deep analysis to conclude that, without a doubt, Dead Head is Holland’s most vicious and powerful riff machine. It may be a bit much to ask for another 35 years of deliciously violent and murderous Thrash Metal, but herewith at least the request to delay retirement for as long as possible. Thanks in advance!