Band: Deceiver
Title: Thrashing Heavy Metal
Label: Pulverised Records
Distribution: Sure Shot Worx
Release date: 23/02/2009
Review: CD

Deceiver were formed in 2004 by Pete ‘Flesh’ Karlsson (Maze Of Torment, Thrown, Flesh), Crille Lundin (Thrown, session for Flesh, ex-Xenofanes) and Flingan (session for Flesh). Half a year later, the band, in mean time joined by vocalist Destormo, is able to release a first studio recording, the self-called mini-album, followed ten months after by their debut full length, Riding With The Reaper, both released through Iron Fist Productions. Because of a filled schedule with his other bands Maze Of Torment and Serpent Obscene, Destormo leaves the band and compositor / lyricist / guitar player Pete takes over the vocal parts. The trio records their second full length, called Holov Posen Tro May Trot, but in 2007, the members decide to put the band to rest.
However, last year the trio reunited to record one more album, and to play some final shows together again as Deceiver. The result is Thrashing Heavy Metal, which lasts for almost thirty five minutes, and which was recorded again at the famous Abyss Studio with Tommy Tägtgren. As the title says, Thrashing Heavy Metal stands for thrashing Heavy Metal, or better, for heavy Thrash Metal with an archaic (NWOB) Heavy Metal-approach. The up-tempo songs are very dynamic, energetic and rhythmic, including several tempo-changes and a rough and concrete sound. Pete’s raw and deep Thrash grunts are splendid and appear in perfect interaction with the ultra-heavy rhythm section and guitar lines. In contradiction to many Swedish colleagues, Deceiver’s old school approach doesn’t just sound ‘typical Swedish’, but pretty universal, yet without dwelling into a dimension of fake clichés. On the contrary, Thrashing Heavy Metal sounds unique, and I’m graceful to my Lord of Metal he convinced Pete to write one more album. Anyway, this album is highly recommended to every fan of Thrash, Heavy and Death Metal (Pestilence, Possessed, King Diamond, Maze Of Torment, Testament, Flesh, Venom, Death and Portal).

87/100

Ivan Tibos.