DEAD END – Metamorphosis Album Review

DEAD END – Metamorphosis
Release date: November 11, 2009
By: Henade

DEAD END was one of the bands that rocked the US metal heads of the late 80's, along with the likes of Motley Crue and Ozzy Osbourne. Those who remember their short career in America, like myself, may not have realized they were actually a rock band hailing from the Land of the Rising Sun. Back then, I did not realize they were not singing in English most of the time. I simply enjoyed the music.

After a 20-year silence, DEAD END has returned with the full album Metamorphosis.

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The first notable difference in their new style is how it has matured and grown stronger, without really changing. They hold true to their old-school roots and enhance it with hints of new-school influences. Every song on the album catches your attention and holds you with every beat.

From Morrie’s strong vocals to the blending beats of guitars, drum and bass, this entire album is no less than amazing. From the heavy drums and guitar of 摩天楼ゲーム (matenrou ge~mu), to the smooth rock ballad 冥合 (mei gou), Metamorphosis is very uniquely DEAD END.

Each song gives a fine sampling of each member’s talents. 摩天楼ゲーム (matenrou ge~mu) is a great example of how well they work together, the instruments blend and play off each other expertly. The guitar and drums are heavy, but bring together the song with bass and add a backdrop for the vocals, without taking a back stage to them.

Dress Burning is everything you expect from DEAD END and more. It has the same feel of their older music, but with the added spice of experience and refined talents.

テレパシー (terepashi~) is a very smooth, but heavy song. The guitar is strong and stands out well. I love the guitar and blending of rhythms in this song. Morrie’s growling vocals in the chorus grab your attention and work well with the prominent electric guitars.

Devil Sleep showcases Morrie’s vocal range, giving the listener a feeling of awe as he melodically shifts from one extreme to the next without exaggerating his talents or overpowering the rest of the music. The drums and bass are awesome in this song, in both the stronger faster beats to the slower sections. If you want a song to head bang to, this would be it.

神猿 (kami saru) has a strong guitar opening. The beat in general makes it hard to stay still and not sing along. The blending of background vocals and guitar is smooth and if you do not listen closely, you may miss it. The whispered lyrics blend well into the guitar and drums, making it difficult to hear them, which is a nice break from the previous part of the song.

擬似ヴィーナス (giji vi~nasu) starts as a soft and calming guitar. It is the shortest song on the album, but probably is the song with the most impact. If Morrie’s husky whisper does not lure you, then the composition will surely grab you.

Princess is my favorite song on the album. The vocals blend and stand out equally in this song. The beat is fast, very rock and makes it hard to sit still. The guitar solo is again, remarkable.

Guillotine starts out strong and does not let you down through the entire song. The heavy guitar is a great accompaniment to the strong and deep vocals while both stand out.

Kill Me Baby is another heavier song, reminiscent of their earlier origins. It has a lot of interesting sounds mixed into it making a very uniquely DEAD END sound. It is smooth and blends together well for the totality of a great rock sound.

冥合 (mei gou)’s strong melodic guitar, deep bass and soft drums are a great accompaniment to Morrie’s vocals. A powerful ballad, it is the perfect ending for the album.

The members of DEAD END play amongst each other’s instruments perfectly, knowing how to make them work together and still stand strongly on their own. Metamorphosis has something for everyone, whether you’re an old fan, or a new fan listening for the first time. It is hard, smooth, raw, and a great album to showcase their more developed style and strength.