by Justin Gaines
– Sr. Columnist —
Self-released and funded through fan support via Kickstarter, Deathanity R3 is the latest offering from Maryland-based progressive rockers Odin’s Court. If you’re a longtime fan of the band, the Deathanity title (and cover artwork) will be very familiar, since it was the title of the band’s 2008 full-length album. Deathanity R3 is a new presentation of that album, with the R3 standing for Rerecorded, Remixed and Remastered.
The main change to the album is that the vocals have been rerecorded, so now we get to hear what these songs sound like with Odin’s Court’s current vocalist Dimetrius LaFavors singing them. The vocals on the original Deathanity album weren’t bad at all, but LaFavors has such a distinct style and played such a big part in making recent Odin’s Court releases so memorable, so it’s a real treat hearing him here. Guitarist Matt Brookins also took the opportunity to remix and remaster the album, so between those touch-ups and the new vocals, Deathanity R3 really feels like a new listening experience.
As to the Deathanity album itself, it’s a great example of the Odin’s Court sound. It straddles the line between Progressive Rock and Metal, and has both intellectual appeal and emotional resonance. Enchant seems to be the closest comparison, but you’ll also hear traces of Rush, Pink Floyd and Fates Warning in this complex album. The musicianship, particularly the guitars, is first class, and technical without being self-indulgent, which is a rare enough thing in the Progressive Rock and Metal genres. As with the original album, Deathanity R3 features guest vocals by Tom Englund (Evergrey) on “Mammonific” and Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica) on “Crownet.”
Rerecordings are always a risky venture for bands. In most cases, the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” rule applies. With Deathanity R3, Odin’s Court has given us a fresh perspective on an already enjoyable set of songs, and one that really reflects the chemistry this lineup has. Fans of the original Deathanity album should enjoy the new look, and more recent fans will get to experience the album for the first time. And if you haven’t yet discovered Odin’s Court but enjoy bands like Dream Theater, Enchant, Fates Warning and Pink Floyd, Deathanity R3 makes a great introduction to this overlooked Progressive band.
Genre: Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal
Lineup:
Rick Pierpont (g) (v)
Matt Brookins (g) (k) (b) (v)
Dimetrius LaFavors (v)
Craig Jackson (b)
John Abella (d) (v)
Savino Palumbo (k)
Track Listing:
1. Terracide
2. Volatilestial
3. Manifest Destiny
4. Oceanica Toxica
5. Mammonific
6. Animaulic
7. Esoterica
8. Crownet
9. Obesite
10. Ode to Joy
11. Cosmosera
12. Vastificant
Label: Self-released
Website: www.odinscourtband.com
Hardrock Haven Rating: 8.75/10
