Live Review: Deathstars – Academy 3, Manchester 03/11/2014

DEATHSTARS (+ The Dead And Living)
Academy 3, Manchester
03/11/2014

In typical Mancunian fashion the rain made a brief appearance prior to the doors of the Academy opening, albeit a few days too late to aid in putting out the band's tour bus which caught fire while on the road in mainland Europe. But in spite of the eight-month wait since the original date, plus fire and rain, the tour goes on regardless.

The band have taken fellow Swedes The Dead And Living out on the road with theme this time around. And it is immediately evident as to why when the quintet take to the stage. A dark blend of pop-punk and bluesy rock complete with a clone of Whiplasher Bernadotte fronting them, the band take their role of pumping the crowd up very seriously.

Their bouncy and accessible formula plays especially well to the younger element of the crowd, however the majority of it, despite some interesting interludes, is unmemorable and as soon as they leave the stage the immediate effect of their cheer-leading dissipates in anticipation of the headliner's imminent arrival.

The main event of the evening soon hit the stage and bring the metal. The now four-piece death glam act unload a barrage of industrial-tinged anthems and the eager crowd lap it up. Cuts from the latest album 'The Perfect Cult' such as 'Explode', 'All the Devil's Toys', and 'Fire Galore' sit comfortably alongside tried and tested tracks from the bands previous studio outings with the likes of 'Tongues', 'New Dead Nation', 'Night Electric Night', 'Metal', and 'Synthetic Generation' enjoying big reactions from the crowd.

Frontman Whiplasher is poised and commanding as he flirtatiously instructs the crowd to cheer and brushes off the attention-seeking hecklers with some quick wit. He is somewhat less vocal than on previous appearances in the UK, but at the end of of long tour cycle it is hardly surprising.

The band are on form and having fun with it and the crowd reciprocates at every opportunity. The band puts on a strong performance befitting their now veteran status and by the time the band unleash the encore of 'Cyanide' and 'Blitzkrieg' it it safe to say that everyone present is satisfied with the exhibition of their increasingly formidable repertoire.

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Review: Deathstars – 'The Perfect Cult'

DEATHSTARS
'The Perfect Cult'
NUCLEAR BLAST 

If the Swedish deathglam band's last outing on 'Night Electric Night' felt a little like treading over the same ground as their breakthrough album 'Termination Bliss', then their latest offering should serve to restore your faith a little. The band's fourth album sees many of the themes and motifs of the previous two albums return, and their NDH influenced sound is still at the core of this release. Yet the energy is more positive and the songs display a bit more variation to keep things interesting.

The albums big numbers retain the formula of past hits such as 'Blitzkrieg' and 'Cyanide' with the melodic synths, hard NDH guitars and sing-a-long choruses intact. The lead single 'All The Devil's Toys', 'The Perfect Cult', 'Asphalt Wings' and 'Temple Of The Insects' all proudly fly the Deathstars flag and give the fans exactly what they expect.

However the band still have a few tricks up their sleeves with the likes of 'Explode', 'Bodies', 'Track, Crush & Prevail' and 'Noise Cuts' playing with the formula and stripping back elements of the established formula to great effect. Though the songs don't really get anywhere near as daring as the likes of 'Syndrome', they do just enough to vary the pace of the album and give you a little more substance.

The production, as you'd expect, sounds big and anthemic. Perhaps to the detriment of some of the quieter moments on the album. But it's mixed well and gives the listener plenty of bang for their buck.

'The Perfect Cult' could be seen as a return to form after the lacklustre outing of 'Night Electric Night' and the premature 'Greatest Hits' filler. The album still lacks that innovation and playfulness that was characteristic of 'Synthetic Generation'. However this will still tick the boxes for the vast majority of fans.

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Review: Deathstars – 'All The Devil's Toys' (Single)

DEATHSTARS
'All The Devil's Toys'
NUCLEAR BLAST 

Swedish “deathglam” outfit Deathstars release this prelude to their forthcoming fourth album 'The Perfect Cult' to a waiting audience. The band's last single was 2011's 'Metal', while their last full-length studio output was 2009. So is their new single 'All The Devil's Toys' worth the wait? Or is it too little too late?

Well thankfully, the postponed European tour dates and long wait for new material seem minor issues once you hit the play button. 'All The Devil's Toys' is exactly what fans will be craving from the quartet. The combination of catchy electronics and NDH style guitars that made hits such as 'Blitzkrieg' and 'Cyanide' are intact and now enhanced by the addition of live drums in the mix which gives the mix a much more dynamic feel. Whiplasher's deep gravely vocals sound just as powerful as ever and entice the listener to just start singing along.

There is an 8-bit version also included which will no doubt prove to be a little more decisive. Stripped-back to the bare electronics, augmented with minor guitars and a basic rhythm track it harks back to early 90's ebm with unusualy modern vocals plonked on top. It may grow on a few people, and will probably be used by plenty of DJs to annoy anyone who requests them at a club night. But it still retains the fundamental charm and catchy flavour of the original.

This may only be a small taster of things to come. But after the band's rather derivative third album and subsequently opting for a premature greatest hits, 'All The Devil's Toys' signals a welcome return to form. Hopefully the rest of the album, due out in June, will live up to this preliminary single.

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