Degradead
A World Destroyer

June 2011
Released: 2011, Metalville
Rating: 3.0/5
Reviewer: Waspman

Stockholm, Sweden’s Degradead is a relatively new band that, despite having two previous albums out, is behind their time. It may be 2011 but this band, I’m sure, would feel much more at home in 1997. Why? Because these five Swedes play by the book melodic death metal straight out of the playbook of bands like Dark Tranquillity and JESTER RACE-era In Flames. I could pretty much end this review right there and you’d know what to expect because really, Degradead do nothing that hasn’t been done a thousand times before by a hundred interchangeable bands.



In fact, A WORLD DESTROYER is one of those difficult albums to review because it’s certainly not groundbreaking, but it isn’t bad either. The band certainly plays with fire, attacking the songs and really getting across their passion for the music. The problem is the songs just aren’t exciting. When so many bands have covered the same musical terrain over the past 13 years, it’s tough to get excited about when Degradead are doing. I mean, the second the first song begins, you know that you’re going to hear sharp riffs, melodic leads, and growled but decipherable vocals, and that is exactly what you get throughout the album.



I can imagine a newer (read: younger…sigh) listener putting this album and just going crazy over what they hear, but for those of us that have been around long enough, it is strictly a heard-it-all-before experience. Still, Degradead have given us a quality album, despite its clichés, so check it out if you haven’t had your fill of melodic death metal.