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Vitriol Inc

    
       
       
       
     
             
Deadline are a heavy metal band from South Africa formed in 2014 releasing their debut album 'Black Wolf City' in 2017, and sophomore album 'Cathedral Point' in 2020. The bands third album 'Vitriol Inc' was released in 2023, and was preceded by four singles - 'Cult Of Prometheus', 'Monuments', 'My Sweet Apocalypse' and 'Vitriol'.    
             
The band are spearheading a recent metal surge coming out of South Africa, their new album combining the sounds of traditional heavy metal with power and thrash elements. 'Vitriol Inc' is ten swashbuckling romps of infectious heavy metal to whet even the most driest of appetites! The album erupts into life with the rabble rousing call to arms, one minute long 'Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum' - translates in English as "if you want peace, prepare for war" - seguing straight into (presumably the albums title song) 'Vitriol'...    
             
...and a slamming of the senses that is both brutal and highly aggressive! The iconic gallop of the legendary NWOBHM evolution is emphatically present - the band storming forth with a high level of intent and purpose. The head bang ability is off the scale, Deadline opening their new album in devastating style. The first single released 'Cult Of Prometheus', maintains the albums heavy onslaught, picking up the energy and tempo levels, moving the mosh pits in the direction of circles and walls of death! Metalheads all over the world will go fucking crazy for 'Vitriol Inc's opening double salvo - explosions and devastation the order of the day. And with no let up in the heavy metal assault, the band motor on with the pummelling savagery of 'Synthetic Illusions', banging heads harder than ever! The opening triple attack has been deadly, Deadline repeatedly hitting the sweet spot - very hard!    
             
Featuring a different tone and mood to everything heard so far, 'My Sweet Apocalypse' is a much more melodic approach to heavy metal, played out over a mid paced, mid tempo swagger. Think the longer epics of Iron Maiden, and 'The Unforgiven' trilogy by Metallica - that's the dynamic Deadline have gone for here. And it fits in really well! The band resuming their galloping stance with the power driven rampage 'Codebreaker' - displaying a little of the muscular style of American power metal. 'Codebreaker' is also the most infectious song heard this far, one hundred percent catchy and highly sing a long-able. Surely it's gonna become a crowd favourite! As should the majestic old school flavour of 'Ghost Of Kyiv' - harking back to a glorious time for heavy metal evolution when bands such as Saxon, Raven and Angel Witch were shaping the sound of traditional metal.    
             
And for a moment all pace and power is dropped in favour of a mellow guitar intro to bring 'Exhale' to life - toeing a hymn-like ballad line as it progresses. Now, regular readers will surely know what I'm gonna say next! Ballads are for rock albums, not metal ones - Deadline getting half a pass here, as there are touches of the anthemic style of metal along with a heaviness which keeps 'Exhale' from falling fully into ballad territory. Thankfully the band plant both feet firmly back in the heavy metal genre for the thundering 'Devil In Disguise', resuming once more the power driven style of heavy metal ala Judas Priest. 'Devil In Disguise' is infectious and head bang-able to the max. Bringing a very good album to a close is 'Monuments' a half thrash, half traditional "foot on the monitor" gallop, replete with a head bang ability that is off the fucking scale! The band are in menacing mood here, 'Monuments' a metal onslaught of thrashy riffs, pulsating rhythms and screeching vocals. What a way to end the album!    
             
Overall, a ten song barrage of glorious heavy metal, featuring tonnes of old school traditional metal flavour.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
Other Reviews    
             

           
           
Monuments (single)      
           
"a thundering appetiser for the bands new album, 'Monuments' is a thrash infused heavy metal rampage" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             

           
           
My Sweet Apocalypse (single)      
           
"a majestic mid tempo, mid paced melodic swagger of traditional heavy metal" Read Review      
     
     
     
           
             
             
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