11th October 2023

Review: “Stalked by Daemons” by State Of Deceit

Born from the ashes of Cardiff Thrash crew The Devolved with a more Metalcore orientated sound, State Of Deceit unveiled their debut EP “Retribution” to an unsuspecting World back in 2019. While the great plague years curtailed their touring plans it also gave them the opportunity to work on their debut album, breaking out of the studio for a run that took them to the final of the Metal 2 The Masses competition in 2022. Produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Tim Hamill (Anterior) at Sonic One Studio that album is now certified fit for human consumption by Eclipse Records after a trio of big singles landed over the summer…

…opening cut “Endure My Fate” sets the tone as State Of Deceit wear their influences on there collective sleeves with shades of 80’s Thrash, 2003 era American Metalcore and even Traditional Heavy Metal all thrown into the melting pot of sound they have created themselves. Gang chants and a clean vocal flourish bolster the gruff uncleans from vocalist Pete Scammell as the band knit together the components with verve and swagger while ensuring that things don’t become disjoined during the style shifts. Bringing Groove laden riffs to the Kings table “Demi-God” builds on the foundation with a second blistering cut. This time around the rhythms are a little more fruity with some staccato riff breaks permeating to create pre-break down moments that don’t come to fruition. Instead the band flip the script and bring back the clean vocals on an underpinning vocal layer to give the the track another dimension, something which works but isn’t strictly necessary. The cleans work far better on the punchy “Stalked By Daemons, Guarded By Angels” which takes us into early Killswitch Engage territory with a bold and bleak chorus that gives the whole thing a beauty and beast vibe. It makes for a powerful piece as well as on obvious title track, the solo in the final flourish adding that little bit star dust that we all love.

Smashing a melancholic introduction like a mirror “Hate Within” finds Scammell in a reflective mood, the step up from the melodic to the heavy not quite as powerful as it could have been but tastefully done, State Of Deceit choosing to maintain the sombre and sobering atmospheric rather than fly off in another direction. That doesn’t prevent them from moving through the gears however and there are a few slick dirge laden riffs to keep the heads banging despite the slower and more brooding nature of this ride. Somewhere between Metalcore and Melodic Death Metal “Withered” hits like a left hook from a prize fighter, a scream-a-long tune and mosh pit violence starter that once again packs a ripper of a face melting solo in the final moments. Indeed a strong finish is a trait of the vast majority of the songs on the record, none of them outstaying their welcome. The oddly titled “Mark Of The Whale” finds Scammell’s clean vocals reaching territory of Brandon Saller of Atreyu while all around him swirl classic Metalcore guitar work and pummelling percussion from Matt Toner. An obvious single with a nostalgic appeal, it’s an instant scratch card winner that deserves an airing on US Hard Rock Radio simply because its not only sumptuous but also slick, hours of toil in the practice space paying off handsomely.

Having main riff to be worshipped that approaches Stoner Metal territory means that “Scorched” offers something a little different while not straying too far from the path or dabbling in the dark arts of synths or electronics. A cleverly executed false ending is genius while some of fruity language towards the end will crack a smile on the face of even the hardest of Metal Heads because it’s fun. Stylistically reverting to type “Suffer” has the growls and riffs to allow State Of Deceit to compete with the big boys with roars of “Doomsday!” reverberating around the skull long after this one has played out. A funky bass drive brings “At What Cost?” to life as a punchy affair reminiscent of bands like Prong in the verse, the socially and politically aware lyrical narrative delicately poised before powerhouse pre-chorus to die for. The chorus was always going to be bright and bold on this one and the contrast between the abrasive and the melodic is perfectly balanced on a knife edge to create a banger of a tune. A Death Thrash orientated cut might be the last thing you expect from an album like this, especially as the closer but it pays to expect the unexpected as “Digital Tattoo” is a bloody rampage from start to finish. Throwing the formula away for an all guns blazing attack, this one is the icing on the cake [7.5/10]

Track Listing