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Deus X Machina - X review



Reviewer:
7.0

2 users:
6.5
Band: Deus X Machina
Album: X
Release date: July 2014


01. Dawn Of Ashes
02. The Devourer
03. Reborn In The Fire
04. Absolute Reality
05. The Curse Of Capistrano
06. Farewell
07. Under The Clouds
08. Deus X Machina
09. Eye Of The Tiger [Survivor cover]

Deus X Machina's X is power metal with strong heavy metal leanings. These Argentines released a debut that comes out of the gate with mountains of energy to spare, a classic metal influence, and a singer with strong high notes even a dog can't hear. The opening track even reminded me of Hibria's debut Defying The Rules: The Power Metal Version.

The youthful energy here is the main selling point; each listen was exciting and I couldn't help but tap a toe or otherwise move my body for every single note. Yet, they're unpolished here and there and still have a ways to go regarding songwriting. The melodies are good, not great or hugely memorable, and the production is a bit lacking. Overall, keyboards are well used and provide enough support without overwhelming any of you listeners who have keyboard allergies. Vocals are classically performed and stay primarily in the upper range. Because of this, they have potential to get tiresome. This guy sounds like he knows what he's doing, so I'd love to hear him explore his mid- and low-range more next time.

The opening track "Dawn Of Ashes" is just excellent and shows off the band well. It sets the tone nicely but no other song comes close to its magnificence. If Deus X Machina can get some "songwriting-stamina" going, we in the power metal world should brace ourselves for their awesomeness. They also need to work on their obligatory ballads, but can rest-assured that this is something with which most power metal bands struggle.

Worth mention is the title track: a 12-minute epic and a bit of a strange departure from the rest of the album. There are some extreme vocals, some odd chanting, but one hell of a solo around the 8-minute mark. The band calls themselves "Progressive Power Metal" and if they had more than one song like this, I'd them that also. It's not necessarily "better" than the others, but it alone shows their progressive side and is quite interesting.

(I must point you in the direction of their album-closing cover: Survivor's Eye Of The Tiger. Whether or not you're a child of the 80s, it's a fun way to close out a fun album.)

X is an record for power metal fans to enjoy, but more importantly, to whet your appetite for what this band can become.





Written on 24.11.2014 by Susan appreciates quality metal regardless of sub-genre. Metal Storm Staff since 2006.

Twitter: @HeavyMetalSusan


Comments

Comments: 4   Visited by: 84 users
24.11.2014 - 12:48
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Quote:
(I must point you in the direction of their album-closing cover: Survivor's Eye Of The Tiger. Whether or not you're a child of the 80s, it's a fun way to close out a fun album.)


No, it is not a fun way to close out the album. This is truly one of the worst covers ever recorded.
----
Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal

Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight
Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.)
05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996

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24.11.2014 - 19:50
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
I must second what Marcel just wrote. It ruined my birthday.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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25.11.2014 - 03:42
Rating: 7
Susan
Smeghead
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 24.11.2014 at 12:48

Quote:
(I must point you in the direction of their album-closing cover: Survivor's Eye Of The Tiger. Whether or not you're a child of the 80s, it's a fun way to close out a fun album.)


No, it is not a fun way to close out the album. This is truly one of the worst covers ever recorded.


Marcel you are in love with this cover! You complimented the intro then posted the video on your facebook page
----
"A life all mine
Is what I choose
At the end of my days"
--The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
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25.11.2014 - 10:31
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Written by Susan on 25.11.2014 at 03:42

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 24.11.2014 at 12:48

Quote:
(I must point you in the direction of their album-closing cover: Survivor's Eye Of The Tiger. Whether or not you're a child of the 80s, it's a fun way to close out a fun album.)


No, it is not a fun way to close out the album. This is truly one of the worst covers ever recorded.


Marcel you are in love with this cover! You complimented the intro then posted the video on your facebook page



You misinterprted what I said about the intro. All I said was that the intro was good in comparison to the rest of the song. But the intro itself is also still bad. Just not as horrendous as the rest of the song.
----
Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal

Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight
Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.)
05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996

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