Dezperadoz – An Eye For An Eye

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AFM
Produced by Thomas Lichtenwalter, Dennis Ward & Alex Kraft

Since taking over from original vocalist Tom Angelripper (Sodom) this is the second Dezperadoz record to feature guitarist Alex Kraft on lead vocals and his much more southern tone is perfectly suited to Dezperadoz’s unique ‘Western metal’ sound.

The swampy clean twang of southern country occupies short intro piece An Eye For An Eye before Hate really sets the tone for the album with its heavy, romping riffs. Dezperadoz’s sound is a hard one to define. Some Shooter Jennings ‘outlaw country’ attitude, Zakk Wylde squeals and Ted Nugent‘s dirty riffing. Some Monster Magnet, Pain and Tito & Tarantula. Some Hellyeah with cleaner vocals. They’re certainly a unique band, and they’re absolutely magnificent.

There are huge hints of The Cult, and Ian Astbury in particular, in the chorus to Wild Bunch, and Angelripper makes an appearance on Here Comes The Pain, so his influence is felt there, but otherwise the album is purely Dezperadoz’s unique blend of country, southern rock and metal with just the spaghetti-western-theme-music of Give Up and the tongue-in-cheek country of 25 Minutes To Go to really break that mould.

The album apparently tells the story of a man condemned to death in the name of God, but it’s not so easy to pick up on that from listening to it as the tracks are quite separated. One track in particular which doesn’t help this aspect of the record is Riders On The Storm, which actually is a (suitably grooved-up) cover of the Doors classic.

That minor grumble aside the big Wyldeian riffs, southern swagger and Kraft’s gritty, melodic vocals, slightly reminiscent of Peter “Peavey” Wagner (Rage) dominate tracks like Wild Bunch, Days of Thunder and Hate. And if you’re wondering if there’s any of that classic Western movie whistling, there is in the intro to May Heaven Strike Me Down before another monumental riff.

“ Western metal ”

Tracklist: An Eye For An Eye / Hate / Days of Thunder / Wild Bunch / Wild Times / Riders On The Storm / Here Comes The Pain / Give Up / May Heaven Strike Me Down / When The Circus Comes To Town / A Tooth For A Tooth / 25 Minutes To Go

Written by Andy Lye
More: Albums, Southern, Dezperadoz