review by: Roberto Martinelli

Norwegian Madder Mortem seems to have come out of nowhere to make such a fine product inside and out, for everything about Deadlands, from the lyrics to the packaging, contributes to a monumental doom metal record.

Of the schools of doom, Madder Mortem is in that Candlemass branch - the kind that's not excruciatingly slow or sludgy or retro sounding; nor is it Gothy or symphonic. It's just heavy metal doom; crushing material driven by guitars and bass and drums, and with massive, lilting melodies. To draw some quick comparisons, the vocal delivery and multi-tracked harmonies often sound a great deal like the stuff on Solitude Aeturnus' most recent record, Adagio. At other times, mainly during the single track, solo vocal parts, the vocals are much like The Gathering's Anneke Von Giersbergen on her doomier songs. Categorizing this band by using Candlemass as an example is a bit misleading, as Madder Mortem doesn't share the absurd, cheesy facets of the first incarnations of the Swedish greats.

So, everything is just right. A pace that is despondent and totally crushing, yet immediately approachable - massive and churning without falling into the trap of the material suffering because of its slowness. From this wasteland of soul rending compositions and arrangements arise the vocals of Agnete Kirkevaag, whose delivery is colossal while simultaneously conveying delicacy and grace. Since all the vocals are clean, poor lyrics would be very vulnerable, but thankfully the lyrics are as good as everything else. They are well written as prose and do nothing but add more and more layers to the sublime sense of beautiful, powerful misery.

Although Deadlands doesn't appear to be a concept album, the artwork and lyrics convey strong themes of a wasteland where people are in a perpetual, inescapable state of bondage and forced labor - kind of like the industrial version of a fantasy Egyptian pyramid building hell. In "Silverspine," Kirkevaag sings: "This is all yours if you want it/ My sick landscape, dry and fevered/ My survival and the hunger/ Growing older in a heartbeat." In "Deadlands," the listener is faced with such words as: "All I wanted was a little discipline/ A master's touch to give me some serenity within/ Now I know there's no one there to save me from myself."

Of course the record would be nowhere without riffs, and Deadlands has got those in droves. Look especially for the stunning main riff to the song "Rust Cleansing" and the brilliant instrumental arrangements that are presented with the best possible production. Where so many metal records, even good ones, have obvious creative holes in them, (more often than not in the quality of the lyrics) Deadlands has none. It's a carefully and tastefully crafted work. Look for this to be the best doom record of the year, and certainly the surprise pick of this issue. (9.5/10)