Release date: 24th January 2020
As one of the earlier bands I discovered whilst first getting into reviewing music for Soundscape, I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for Dead End Finland, so to see them come back with another strong album brings warmth to my cold, blackened heart. Adding another healthy dose of electronics to their sound this time around, Inter Vivos sees the band develop their sound again, and it’s refreshing to hear them evolving with each release.
One of the elements of Dead End Finland’s music that keeps each album consistently good is the vocals. Both harsh and clean approaches are delivered powerfully and clearly, and the clean vocals in particular really give the songs an extra kick. They are very controlled and easy to sing along to – there are plenty of seriously catchy lines and choruses destined to get stuck in your head, and the strong delivery of these lines are responsible for that.
After powerful opener Deathbed, which really amps things up, second track Closer To Extinction is another early highlight. The chorus is especially good, with an emotive and colourful performance, and the synth lines juxtaposing fantastically against the heavier guitars and drums add a great element of variety to the song. Later track My Pain is another great inclusion; it’s one of the tracks with a heavier vibe whilst still staying true to the general sound of the album as a whole, and helps to keep things moving whilst still delivering some serious riffs and melodies.
Dead End Finland have done it again with album number four, and have crafted another album to be proud of. When it comes to catchy hooks and massive choruses, look no further than these.
9/10
