Death Dealer
War Master
Steel Cartel Records
2013
Death Dealer is not another super-project but a “real” band as the members say. They have the will to go the way and this ain’t a one-album thing at all. But who the hell are Death Dealer? The band consists of: Sean Peck (Cage, Empires of Eden) on vocals, Ross the Boss (ex-Manowar, Dictators, Manitoba) on guitar, Stu Marshall (Empires of Eden, ex-Dungeon, Paindivision) on guitar, Mike Davis (Halford, ex-Lizzy Borden) on bass & Rhino (ex-Manowar, Holy Hell, Angels of Babylon) on drums. In truth to be told, this is an impressive line-up!
But what about the music? It’s always about the music so what’s going on here? Well, the specific musicians couldn’t come up with something less than a vigorous heavy/power metal album. The metal flows hot as the songs go on and on. The production is sharp & dynamic as well. One may say that this album is an exception in comparison to the super-bands that most of the times fail us with their music. Yes & no, is the answer.
But let’s see things clear. What if the band’s members weren’t some well-known metal musicians? What if they were all new and none had great expectations from them and approached the album without being biased? Here’s where the problem begins. You see “War Master” is a powerful & solid heavy metal album that will mostly please the (80s) metal maniacs… but unfortunately this is where it all ends. Without differentiating from the Judas Priest formula (like Cage), they present something that hasn’t got very strong melodies and it is based on run of the mill song structures and harmonies. I do like what I hear but this album is far from a “classic one” as some fantasize. Their first attempt is nice but I’m expecting something way better and superior from this line-up. Probably I’m a bit severe but honestly if we lower our standards and we are satisfied by OK but not superb albums then we only hurt our beloved music. With no disrespect to some of my beloved musicians, I’m looking forward to something comparable to their past works in the future…
But what about the music? It’s always about the music so what’s going on here? Well, the specific musicians couldn’t come up with something less than a vigorous heavy/power metal album. The metal flows hot as the songs go on and on. The production is sharp & dynamic as well. One may say that this album is an exception in comparison to the super-bands that most of the times fail us with their music. Yes & no, is the answer.
But let’s see things clear. What if the band’s members weren’t some well-known metal musicians? What if they were all new and none had great expectations from them and approached the album without being biased? Here’s where the problem begins. You see “War Master” is a powerful & solid heavy metal album that will mostly please the (80s) metal maniacs… but unfortunately this is where it all ends. Without differentiating from the Judas Priest formula (like Cage), they present something that hasn’t got very strong melodies and it is based on run of the mill song structures and harmonies. I do like what I hear but this album is far from a “classic one” as some fantasize. Their first attempt is nice but I’m expecting something way better and superior from this line-up. Probably I’m a bit severe but honestly if we lower our standards and we are satisfied by OK but not superb albums then we only hurt our beloved music. With no disrespect to some of my beloved musicians, I’m looking forward to something comparable to their past works in the future…