I must admit that DEATH BY STEREO have somewhat passed me by until now. The name was familiar, but nothing more. A band I've heard about occasionally and that plays a lot, but I hadn't given them my full attention until now.
A mistake!
DEATH BY STEREO deliver a powerful album with their new release “We´re all dying just in time“ that packs a punch.
The band from California blasts through the ten songs of the album, which can leave you dizzy.
Fast hardcore punk, strong hardcore influences, recurring metal parts, captivating melodies, tempo changes, beat-downs, alternating vocals, fierce mosh attacks, and screamo stabs alternate with clean, bright singing, along with epic choruses, thrash bombardment, and everything combined and separated again and again.
This is incredibly demanding sound, where everyone in the band really has to have skills. This sound cannot be played any other way. And if you can't do it, then it makes no sense to try. It will sound forced or artificial.
None of that is the case here. It feels as if the band is on stage just playing their hearts out. The music is so energetic and powerful.
DEATH BY STEREO relies on heaviness where it fits well into the arrangement and holds back, almost gentle, when it should be.
The result is a musically extremely diverse album that still appeals to me even after multiple listens. The excitement about the album does not diminish, but rather increases. The more you listen to “We´re all dying just in time“, the more you realize how complex the songs are, and yet you don't get the impression that anyone in the band wants to indulge in an ego trip with their instrument. That is an art, to be able to do everything and not have to show off.
Actually, everything would be said here and the record would already be rated very highly for its quality, but then I would have forgotten something important, namely the lyrics!
DEATH BY STEREO does not hold back with their lyrics. You can tell from the lyrics, mainly written by singer Efrem Schulz, that a lot of anger needs to be expressed. The lyrics can all be seen as a single indictment. An indictment of our world and our society in which we live and of which we are a part. An indictment of the capitalist system that will ruin us all sooner or later. An indictment for more humanity!
In fact, for humanity!
A bit more humanity would mean that most people are humane. The band questions this with harsh, honest, and above all very poignant words. The references to life in the USA and their life in California are almost always present. Thus, the lyrics are not only universally valid but also have even more substance and closeness to reality due to the personal connection of the band members. Again, two thumbs up.
As a conclusion, one can only say:
Buy the album!
Turn up the volume!
And as soon as possible, go to a concert by DEATH BY STEREO.
