Based on the glowing reviews I had read about their two previous demos (2005’s Demo I and 2007’s Demo II), and the two tracks I heard on their Armoured Assassin single from 2006, I had high expectations from Queensland act The Dead’s self-titled debut. And they certainly haven’t let me down.

Although having only been around for a couple of years, and barely known outside their native Brisbane, The Dead (who comprise of ex-Obfuscate Mass vocalist Mike Yee, ex-Misery/Soundsurgery guitarist Scott Edgar, bassist Adam Keleher and drummer Chris Morse) have really produced one punishing debut, and one that is certainly worthy of more coverage on the international market.

Chaotic speed and jagged death metal riffing open up the first track “Hunting Humans.” Yee’s vocals are a definite stand out feature of the band’s overall sound, with the high-end shrieks and the menacing, guttural growls more than complementing the quite brutal musical accompaniment, while the living dead/zombie lyrical theme ties the whole track together nicely.

“Onslaughter” mirrors the template set down by the opener, while the shorter “Raging Violence,” “Drown In Sin,” “A Killing Kind” and “Nameless Enemy” strip away a little of the manic speed of the former tracks to make way for a more groove orientated style and direction.

Both the title track “The Dead” and “They Eat Their Wounded” once again see the band return to the frantic pace heard at the beginning of the album, before finishing off with the epic “The Doomsayer,” which is, not shockingly, a doom-inspired song. It’s on this track in particular that Edgar (who has since left the group) really gets to show off his ability on the guitar, with the song boasting some impressive solo passages.

Although a little dulled and muffled in terms of overall production values (which could almost be forgiven since the album was recorded over a two day stretch), there’s little to really fault on The Dead’s debut full-length effort.

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