Band:	The Dead Normality
Album:	Killing Reality
Style:	Thrash metal
Release date:	October 22, 2009
A review by:	Thryce

01. MG42
02. Wodanstahl
03. Trinity
04. Known But To God
05. The Hell That Followed

Thrash metal/Melodic Death metal
Recorded: Excess Studios/Triptych Studio, The Netherlands 2008-2009
Unsigned/Self-released
Total Running Time: 34:11


Out of the muddy trenches of the Dutch frontlines comes The Dead Normality. Armed with a destructive portion of aggression and courage, The Dead Normality's military strategy consists of crushing the enemy in a tight and organized way with thrash instigated melodic death metal. Although Killing Reality being the band's first offensive, The Dead Normality are going in for the kill from the second the first tunes are dropping like bombs. This is war!

Consisting of former members of Dead By Dawn and Cypher, The Dead Normality takes you by surprise with their blistering guitar attacks, pounding drums and chugging bass. Steadily crawling solos reflect the cruel atmosphere of militaristic mayhem. The only thing somewhat colorful is the relatively wide range of vocals that suit the music perfectly. With even some hint for originality, the heavy sound is built on a reverence for tempo and melody but also on a pristine production. Dyed red with blood, lyrics are vivid depictions of desolate battlefields, portraying the ugly face of total war. Ah, the atrocity that is WWII. Inexhaustible source of inspiration. Cornerstone of countless war-themed movies, games and albums; making sure the horrors and heroes of the battlegrounds won't be forgotten.

Reading Netherlands-based, WWII-themed and death metal in the same review, the name of Hail Of Bullets immediately comes into the picture. Since it was also the first band that instantly popped into my mind the second I got this EP into my hands, we shall dwell on this topic a bit more. However, apart from the same energetic, almost passionate way of performing, both bands actually don't have that much in common. Truth is, The Dead Normality cannot match said band in terms of relentless musicianship nor can it top the epic wall-of-sound that is Hail Of Bullets' trademark. If Hail Of Bullets' raw rumbling is that of a M1 Abrams tank, The Dead Normality would be the equivalent of a AMC 34 tank: less intimidating and with a lighter caliber, yet still able to roll you over without fail.

Despite the fact The Dead Normality are no allies with the (pathetic) modern trendy metal front, they've clearly risen from a different type of old school than most straight-up death metal bands. Nonetheless, The Dead Normality has proven a worthy competitor, one that - to a certain extent - will shake up the melodic death metal genre. Gentle breeze of fresh air or not, one thing's for sure though, Killing Reality has raised the standards for all releases to follow. For now, The Dead Normality can start carving a path in the killing fields of the extreme metal scene.