By Kat Preston
Over before you know it, but on no account does that stop Dead Again from executing a good, hefty wedge of sludgy grind. Persistently heavy throughout, Occultus Lake delivers ten tracks of lunging power you're guaranteed to walk away from feeling black and blue.
Launching in with the crushing 'The Sleeper has Awakened', this opening track is a damn good example of what is yet to come, covering pretty much every element of the entire record within it's three and a half minutes. Effectively, if this floats your boat, you'll love the next nine tracks. 'Chestburster' pretty much encompasses itself within the title, this is definitely a step up in power and will likely make you want to somewhat explode. 'Empty Burial' takes a more of a laid back, Baptists-esque approach, but with more The Red Chord style vocals before evolving into the ferocious 'Bug Hunt' followed up by groove-laden 'The Lament Figuration'. So that's half of the album summed up for you, with title track 'Occultus Lake' to pick up with the surprises.
Solid slice of the heavier hardcore side of proceedings, Occultus Lake is definitely a record worth checking out and picking up, particularly if you're somewhat keen on anything with a sludge, doom feel with undertones of grind. Nothing exceptionally ground breaking, but definitely a band worth keeping an eye on.
FFO: Baptists, Brotherhood Of The Lake, Esoteric Youth
