by John Kindred
— Publisher —
Denied returns with their 5th full-length studio album aptly titled The Decade of Disruption.
The new album features ex-Artillery Soren Adamsen, who took over vocal duties in 2018, former Opeth axe-slinger, Chris Vowden, is teamed with fellow guitarist Andreas Carlsson, bassist Freddan Thörnblom and drummer Markus Kask.
The Decade of Disruption arrives when a virus has redefined the daily lives of all worldwide. While in North America, social unrest has unfolded with protests, violence, and destruction as racial tensions ripple throughout the good ole USA as the world looks on.
Where do we turn when we want to cry out in rage, yet temper ourselves?
Music.
And not just any genre, but METAL.
The Swedish band’s latest music journeys unleash a ferocious metal onslaught on your auditory sensory system. The album contains nine songs clocking in at 48 minutes, recorded, mixed, and mastered in Chrome Studio in Stockholm, Sweden. The vocals were recorded in Medley Studios in Copenhagen with producer Soren Andersen.
Denied offer us a sonic distraction in the guise of raging metallic songs forged with chunky and crunchy guitars, thundering bass and drums, and heavy, audible vocal melodies.
Fans of the band will be pleasantly pleased with the collection of new tunes offered on the group’s latest studio effort. There is a strong focus on delivering vocals with melody and sing-along choruses. Adamsen has a modest range that falls between heavy and gritty, and soaring and melodic. Carlsson and Vowden’s rhythms are heavy, driving progressions, while Vowden offers up some speedy and tasting soloing throughout the album. The rhythm section of Thörnblom and Kask layout the foundation of the music, holding it all together.
“Throwing Bones” is by far the heaviest track on the CD, while “Hey Lets Go” and “What If” give you memorable sing-along choruses, and “Walk You Through Darkness” plays through dynamic progression changes. “Freedom Rain” is like a METAL-ballad, and the closer “Undergang” is a swirling metallic number, with a droning, crushing riff that plods along with deliberate certainty.
Whew!
The Decade of Disruption is a head-crushing experience.
The album is well worth a listen through headphones or on an old school receiver with tower speakers. CD preferred over MP3, just saying.
Genre: Thrash, Heavy Metal
Band:
Soren Adamsen (v)
Andreas Carlsson (g)
Chris Vowden (g)
Freddan Thörnblom (b)
Markus Kask (d)
Track Listing:
1. Throwing Bones
2. The Beast
3. Enter The Wolf
4. Hey Lets Go
5. Walk You Through Darkness
6. What If
7. Freedom Rain
8. We Play Rock N Roll
9. Undergang
Label: Sweea Records
Online: www.deniedworld.com – www.facebook.com/deniedworld
Hardrock Haven rating: 
(8 / 10)
