Deliverance
As Above - So below

April 2008
Released: 2008, Retroactive Records/Music Buy Mail/Artist Workxx
Rating: 1.5/5
Reviewer: Anders Sandvall

Deliverance is a Christian heavy metal band that has released 12 albums since 1989. The idea for a new album was sparked when Retroactive Records contacted the band’s founding member and driving force Jimmy Brown and presented the idea of writing a new record. Brown went along with the idea despite knowing that the expectations would be huge amongst the fans.

Apparently the band started out their career playing thrash - something you can hear remnants of in their current heavy/progressive metal sound. The musicians are skilled and they handle their instruments with talent. Unfortunately, Brown’s lead vocals are really misplaced due to his weak voice and non-existent vocal range. He would fit better with a melodic hard rock band instead of Deliverance. He pretty much ruins it for the rest of the band.

Another problem is the music. It feels like the songs are about 15-20 years too late in their sound and have long-passed their expiration dates. AS ABOVE – SO BELOW clocks in at over 50 minutes and by then I’ve gone mental. To be honest, I can’t find a single bearable song amongst the 10.

This disc is a big failure in every way. If the band’s fans are excited by this album then there must be something wrong with them. I can’t understand the purpose of releasing such a lame comeback album and I can’t understand why Retroactive Records accepted this “effort.” Luckily this album will quickly sink to the bottom in the flood of albums released every month.