Deceiver
Thrashing Heavy Metal

March 2009
Released: 2008, Pulverised Records
Rating: 4.5/5
Reviewer: Luxi Lahtinen

I have completely missed the true Swedish torchbearers for thrashing heavy metal, 2nd full-length album, titled HOLOV POSEN TRO MAY TROT. Well, my world hasn´t collapsed (yet) because of missing it, but it may well do so because the band´s 3rd - and unfortunately last album (as they have informed all of us), is quite near pure and dry dynamite as far as Deceiver´s own concept for some truly catchy thrashing heavy metal is concerned.



Deceiver´s last album, THRASHING HEAVY METAL, promises what the album title already suggests loud and clear. This is the kind of an album in which the great shadows of Motörhead, Iron Maiden and thrash metal clash in a somewhat cool and perfect way. I love everything on this release – even the pretty cheesy looking album cover (what is it supposed to present? A fossilized human skull or what?!) The songs on it just ooze tons of unbridled energy and sheer motivation to play from the bottom of their hearts, and a continuous listen of this album reveals that it´s certain that all these fellows in Deceiver are long-time fans of a rootsy heavy metal and are not any 14 years old rookies - from bands like Motörhead to Saxon to Iron Maiden to Venom, etc., and also having lots of experience in the world of thrash metal, too.



There´s not one single track on THRASHING HEAVY METAL that could be said to be a mandatory filler song among other songs, but each song respectively of all 10 songs that they have recorded for their so-called ´Grande-Finale-this-was-it-thanks-for-your-attention-over-the-years-bye!´ album, has absolutely earned its place as part of this finely and beautifully thrashing heavy metal opus. Now having said that it´s a real pity that Deceiver has come to the end of their rewarding road although they hardly could have ended their career in a better way. Let me also tell you that songs like “Death to the World” and “Legacy” get my immediate approval as being some of the most perfect Deceiver songs that I have ever had the pleasure to hear from them. Fantastic stuff - up to the very last seconds, especially the very Maiden-tinged instrumental tune “Legacy”. Just listen to those dual guitars in it and make sure to not break your jaws!



THRASHING HEAVY METAL is a great ending to Deceiver´s whole career even if I had sincerely hoped that they would have kept the band going on for a couple of albums more. Goodbye Deceiver… Your albums will surely be cherished by some of us at least anyway; the ones who can separate true and shiny pearls amongst the trash.

Deceiver
Thrashing Heavy Metal

June 2009
Released: 2009, Pulverised Records
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewer: Mr. Rock

You have to hand it to Deceiver… when they named their disc THRASHING HEAVY METAL, they nailed it. This disc is as thrashy, and as heavy metal as any fan could want. With big, big riffs and menacing, growling vocals, the band pummel you over the head from the beginning, and don’t let up for the next 35 minutes.



Sounding similar to Immortal, but obviously not at the level that the mighty ones have achieved, Deceiver have their sound down. These guys aren’t about to throw a ballad atcha. This is fast, and highly melodic metal, perfect for flying down the highway!



Pete Flesh is a dominant force vocally, but even more so with his axe with the big and beefy riffs, just perfect to sink your teeth in to. Flingan and Lundin are a great match for Flesh, holding down the bottom end with authority.



The songwriting on THRASHING HEAVY METAL is catchy and clever, with great songs like “Graveyard Lover” and “Coma of Death Intoxication”. As it is with most thrash metal, there tends to be a lot of similarity between the songs, but here each song holds it’s own, due mostly to those massive guitar riffs. For the most part, the songs are fast, though “Machinery of God” slows it down a bit, adding some more depth to the disc.



I like this band, and I like THRASHING HEAVY METAL, which was nicely produced by metal heavyweight producer Tommy Tatgren. As the band has only been around sporadically for the last 5 years, it’s going to be interesting to see where they take us. If they stay on this course, the band is going to be around for a long time.