Diemonsterdie Only The Dead Will Survive Review

*Originally written in 2005*

Once more, the monsters who lurk in the cemeteries of SLC, Diemonsterdie, have spread their undead wings and unleashed another blood-spattered album. The latest from DMD is entitled “Only the Dead Will Survive”. Let me tell you, from the sounds and the lyrics heard within, if any of the lyrics come to pass, surely the dead will be the only ones to survive! The band exploded onto the Horror scene a few years back and has been dominating it ever since! This cd is living proof. There simply isn’t a band around that works as hard as these guys do. Not only do they put out quality music, but they also promote it. If you go anywhere on the net, you’ll hear about the band.

The monsters have grown a lot with the releasing of this cd. Lead vokillist, Zero has become the undead crooner of a lifetime. In my opinion, there isn’t a singer in the Horror Rock scene that can come close to filling his shoes. He’s the Frank Sinatra of Horror Rock!! If that isn’t enough, he plays guitar like nobody’s business. Bassist, Raven Blades has grown by leaps and bounds. Blades’ playing is not sloppy like I have become accustomed to in this genre, he does it with finesse, the tightness of the songs illustrate that well; If only other bassists in this genre would take a lesson from him… Drummer, Meatwhistle, has always been the best at what he does! Nobody can touch this guy’s stroke, he’s one of the best pocket/groove players to ever sit down behind the kit. His play on this album is legendary. Newcomer, Mercury Rising, makes his debut in a big way, his guitar riffs are slick as shit on this cd! The monsters couldn’t haven’t picked a better musician.

“Only The Dead Will Survive” is packed with fourteen horrifying tales of love lost, love gained, and life taken! “One Night at Devils Rock” kicks off our journey into the dark and it literally feels like I’ve just stepped on the boat with the ferryman. This track wreaks of good ole Rock N’ Roll, the production and mix are top-notch as well. The rhythm section is phat, and the guitar riffs/leads are fucking slamming! The vocals and background are extraordinary, the crooning is so warm and rich I get goosebumps from my goosebumps. The storyline of the song is damn fine, this disc couldn’t have started out better. “October Slowly Dying” is a much quicker paced track. It comes a storming out the gates like an escaped mental patient! The vokills and lyrics are extremely commanding, they direct the traffic of the song. Meatwhistle’s drumming is mind-blowing, I believe he wears the bell of the ride cymbal out on this song, it’s badass! The guitars have a nice old-school sound, the lead break will melt your face off! “Inside I Quietly Bleed” is another fabulous track filled with rich and elegant croons. I am starting to think vokillist Zero could charm snakes with his pipes, his melody lines are beautiful. The music is tough to beat too, it’s radio friendly Rock music. The guitar riffs and rhythm section drive the emotion of the song even further into your brain. The lead break of this track is heartwarming, it’s not too technical, but I am a sucker for chorus effects and leads that play along with the structure of the track. Not everybody has to play like Eddie Van Halen, keep it between the dicthes and rock out with your cock out is what I always say. The fleshy goodness doesn’t cease here, oh no! “No Tomorrow for The Men Of Future” is downright bangin! The Punk Rock/Rock N’ Roll guitars fused together with murderous lyrics make the dead boy in me scream out in pleasurable pain! Closing out, we come to my favorite track off the album… “Black Is the Color Of Darkness”. The song structure is soaked in Boo-wop croons backed closely with more crooning background vocal arrangements. It’s more than evident the influences came straight out of the 50′s. If you thought the Platters were great, you ain’t heard nothing yet! The song has such a somber melancholy, my heart breaks every time I hear it, but I just can’t stop myself. Zero’s vocals combined with the background vocals are fucking awesome!! I’ve been in the Horror Rock scene since it began and there has yet been a song written this good. NONE! Light that up, smoke it and pass it around, kid.

There are so many other great songs on “Only the Dead Will Survive” that I could talk for days about this cd. This is a disc that everyone should experience at least once. It hasn’t left my person since I received it, I take it everywhere! There is nothing like blasting this cd while riding in a badass machine with the motor skin’t back! What’s better than tunes, adrenalin and gasoline. NOTHING!

~Black Angel