Deadnight – Canon of Irreverence [EP]

To start this review, let’s first refresh some facts. Deadnight is not a full-time band, or that’s what it seems like, since with 25 years under their belt, they only have a full album from 2008 and then several singles throughout the years until reaching the present EP. This is a real shame, since they seem like a very good band. The first thing you notice once the click is given is the intensity and aggressiveness with which they attack from the first moment. In ‘Shape of Countless Suffering’, they make this intention clear with rhythmic bases of that blackened thrash that can be found in Sodom or the old Kreator. ‘Executioner’ (very appropriate name) is the second track, and it is simply a headshot. This damn attack destroys everything in its path with blast beats that bombard in several phases of the song. The riffs are catchy, and the voice spits all the shit without mercy. I cut and paste this damn fragment:

“Hours spent planning to devise this attack,
Fueled by my hatred, the pain I’ll give back,
Trapped like a soldier with rifle in hand,
I’ll cut you down with razors of lead.”

Now I ask you sincerely: did you look at the floor to see where the hell your brains went? At 2:45 it passes by, destroying everything like a whirlwind… AAARRGH!!!

The song that gives the EP its name follows the same morbid mania of breaking your face, but in this case, they did not start with the blast beats based on the shrapnel as they did before. Now, they unleash the bombardment in what would be the pre-chorus and the chorus itself, another damn attack with riffs and bestial solos where the guitars scream with resonant influences from Slayer of ’86. As for the sound of the work, it must be said that it was Dan Swanö who did the mastering. As many in extreme metal know, Swanö has a long and prolific musical career and also as a sound engineer. Among his long list of bands with which he has worked on the mixing or mastering, there are several bands in the style of Deadnight, so I think it was a piece of cake for him to do the job. Returning to the recording aspects, in general, said recording is open, which makes everything simply audible. The only unfavorable thing is the bass guitar that has been left behind all the instruments (I assume it was at the time of mixing where it did not have the necessary volume). If it had had a little more volume and presence in this damned compendium of chaotic violence, the wound from the explosion would have been deeper.

This ode to violence closes with ‘Circle of Rats’, which doesn’t let up (they never let up). The song deploys all the weapons already shown in the other attacks here and there. There’s something in Mike’s voice that reminds me a bit of the legendary Okkulto’s vociferations. If I had to find an album to give a reference to what Deadnight does, I’d have to move the map to Finland and point to ‘Unholy Fight for Metal’ by the damned Evil Angel.

‘Canon of Irreverence’ falls short and leaves those looking for this kind of head-blowing blasphemy wanting more violence, where amidst the headbanging, the desire to murder and destroy everything is awakened… until a pile of conquered skulls become the worthy trophies of Mother Death, as depicted in the cover art!

Everyone be warned!