1st November 2023

Review: “Deception” by Lower 13

Formed in Parma Ohio in 2006, Lower 13 have pieced together four albums in the past 17 years with their last, 2021’s “Embrace the Unknown“, released by Germany’s Pure Steel Records. Two years on the band return with “Deception“, an EP produced, mixed and mastered by Noah Buchanan (Midnight, Ringworm, Nunslaughter), which they’re calling their most focused and ferocious body of work to date…

It may not be labelled as a concept record but “Deception” certainly has that vibe to it as it plays out. The first four tracks essentially depict a broken relationship as it unravels before the finale switches from the first person perspective to the third as if it were all a nightmarish fever dream. It’s only once you’ve listened to the record as a whole that you get the true picture of the lyrical narrative, which makes the story itself greater than the sum of the collection of songs individually. As a three piece Lower 13 create the sound of a far bigger band with their sonic abominations, punching with the weight of a five piece as they build their sound with clever layering. The collective are a band who defy genres, taking a page from the book of The Browning with opening cut “More Time” as builds from sinister synth loop. That then flows into Groove Metal with that clank-y bass pop alongside the introspection of Nu-Metal, while a tapping section of guitar work introduces more technicality. Like a well oiled machine, each component part work together well, the only issue being pitching on the clean vocals, which is a little high on this one however the uncleans give it a decent bite. Skin basher Eric Kruger brings a little blasting to the vindictive “Your Love’s a Curse“, a cut with early 2000’s flavours and modern production value. Sean Balog’s bass has become a second guitar by this point, helping drive the rhythms rather than playing along with them and the persistence of the uncleans gives this one a smoother finish.

There are 2003 era American Metalcore flavours in the Patrick Capretta’s riffs on “The One to Blame” which give the cut something of a nostalgic vibe and instant appeal. Even if it’s not something you won’t have heard before, it’s done so well here that it’s impossible to criticise. The clean vocals work far better on this one than they did on the opening cut, the band able to strike a better balance between the vocal styles while shoehorning in a solo in the final third. It has to be said that there is no slow down for a chorus, something that hampered the genre in it’s latter days. Good use of vocal layering makes “Holding on to Misery” one of the highlights of “Deception” with hitherto unheard levels of throat splitting shriller unclean taking things to a new realm. Those are partially masked by clean vocals to give the best of both Worlds this one certainly feels a little more personal with a deeper and more introspective lyrical narrative adding weight and gravity to that. Bringing in Emo tinged dual vocal harmonies “You Just Left Her” is a braver undertaking with a dirge laden riff bursting into a vibrant solo half way through. The extremes within the bands sound have pushed out a little more so the pummelling percussion and guitar work remains sharp but the vocals give it a richer texture. Overall this is one that will grow on you over multiple listens… [7/10]