[4/5] Where 2004's rEVOLVEr found many of the Haunted's fans accusing the thrash-metal leaders of tampering with their formula, The Dead Eye confirms those fans' worst fears. Not only more melodious, more groove-oriented and more distanced than ever from the driving, twin-guitar melancholia of pure Swedish thrash, The Dead Eye is either a breath of fresh air or a colossal shark-jump, depending on your perspective. If you're of the mind that a genre's architects have every right to expand their sound's boundaries, then huge, atmospheric anthems such as "The Medusa" (closer to 30 Seconds To Mars than to anything in the thrash canon) and "The Cynic" (ditto; add Pink Floyd overtones) will be welcome changes. If, however, you're pining for the Haunted's brutal salad days, just type "The Medication" into your downloading client; there's nothing else here for you. (CENTURY MEDIA) Aaron Burgess
 Official Website: http://www.centurymedia.com
|
