How come the name Deadguy has never pop up for a Metal band? It is so simple, so easy, so catchy, so efective. It is everything a band name should be. Go figure. “Near-Death Travel Services” is also a great name for a Metal as well. As a matter of fact, the name is not exactly new as the band is almost thirty years old.
Being the sophomore album after a thirty-year hiatus after many ups and downs, long story short, their 1995 debut LP “Fixation on a Coworker” inspired a generation of bands and was inducted into Decibel’s Hall of Fame all the way back in 2006. Of course, something this destructive can’t last long. After an ill-fated tour of the U.S. the band fractured in half with Singer and Huckins off to Seattle to form Kiss it Goodbye while Dave, Pops and Crispy enlisted Jim Baglino and Tom Yak, released one more EP and called it a day, making their entire storied existence only three years long.
Well, truth be told, “Near-Death Travel Services” is not a Metal album, it is more of a hybrid of Thrash Metal and Hardcore, and I’d say with more Hardcore elements than Thrash Metal. Vocals have that anger and anguish only Hardcore delivers the fans and the guitars showcase that simple, but effective performing with some Metal gripping. It is Metal without the flamboyant effects. That’s what the guitars in tracks as “The Alarmist” and “The Long Search for Perfect Timing” tell the fan.
The cut-throat “Kill Fee” opens up “Near-Death Travel Services” with a very intense guitar playing that showcases everything the album will be all about. A great invitation card as I always say about opening albums tracks. Following track “Barn Burner” has that Thrash Metal frantic guitar riffings with asks for those automatic headbangings any die hard fan feels up to. By the way, the most interesting thing of the album, and “New Best Friend” proves it, is the moody breaks almost all tracks have. The break here with this one is a killer. Moody, slow, and full of emotions. “Cheap Trick” is the one with the most Hardcore features of the album, I mean, with Hardcore intent, because the instrumentals are pure Metal. Vocals are the ones that give the Hardcore intent as in “The Forever People.” By the way, as I aforementioned this is a Deadguy signature sound.
“Near-Death Travel Services” is the kind of bloodlust album we metalheads love. Highly recommended for the ones with that aforementioned bloodllust and for the ones who like Thrash Metal and Hardcore hybrids.
Track Listing:
- Kill Fee
- Barn Burner
- New Best Friend
- Cheap Trick
- The Forever People
- War With Strangers
- Knife Sharpener
- The Alarmist
- The Long Search for Perfect Timing
- All Stick & No Carrot
- Wax Princess
Watch “War with Strangers” official lyric video here:
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!