Review of The Great Deceiver - A Venom Well Designed

No matter how hard he tries to hide from all the comparisons to his former band At The Gates, Tomas Lindberg will forever be linked to the masterpiece that was Slaughter Of The Soul and the legendary reputation of his former band. Having laid down vocals for the newest Lock Up album and the recently released album from The Crown, Lindberg's journey through the metal realm doesn't stop there. The Great Deceiver is a project that will ultimately be unlike anything we've heard on Lindberg's previous and most recent endeavors. The main reason this project may be the brightest thing Tomas has going for him at this point in the game is mainly due to its originality factor, which is off the scale. With music that in my opinion is at times extremely reminiscent to America's own "Seattle Sound" movement, it's the vocal performance that makes it work and drives this one home. The vocals are done in the all out Lindberg style with a new semi-clean touch added. Don't worry, adding a cleaner style has not taken anything away from the sheer brutality of the dirty, and both styles mesh perfectly together. If you're like me than you despise Nirvana, Soundgarden, and the like, but in my honest opinion if you were to take away the vocals completely on this one then that is the kind of music you would be listening to for the most part. Again it all comes down to the vocals and what they add to the overall musical effect. That is where the originality factor comes into play for me. Yes the boys(girls) from Seattle were doing something different, but with the exception of Alice In Chains the music had weak singing and weak riffing. Add the Lindberg flavor and it brings an entirely new element to that sound, and while the riffs cling to the that West Coast style they are done with complete know-how and are done convincingly. Not all of the riffs on this release are grungy. There are several sections flourishing with groove and others that permeate a heavy, crushing feel while others that take on a punky feel. There is a tremolo type effect (not a whammy bar mind you) that resides in just about every track that at first came across as overkill but later came off as inspiring after hearing all the different ways in which it is utilized. All together this album delivers a simple yet very, very effective vibe that for me is truly appetizing. This album is different and very unlike all the many bands that are still trying to make their Slaughter Of The Soul record. If they would just stop trying and just focus on finding themselves they might actually be surprised at what may transpire. A Venom Well Designed may not be for all, but I guarantee you it's for all Tomas Lindberg fans. Not to take anything away from the other excellent members The Great Deceiver holds, but by having the frontman that they do this band could go far with this sound. Truly inspiring…

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The Great Deceiver

A Venom Well Designed

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