Deadline are a French band comprising Arnaud Restoueix on Lead vocals,
Gabriel Lect and Christophe Gatter on Guitar, Sébastien Debbane on Bass and Backing Vocals and Fabrice Trovato on Drums and Backing Vocals. Although new to me, they have been around since 2009 when they released an EP and then, in 2014, their debut full-length album called Fire Inside. This year sees them release the curiously titled Nothing Beside Remains. (I am guessing it is a quote from ‘Ozymandias’, the sonnet written by PB Shelley: “‘My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!’ Nothing beside remains. Round the decay of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away”). Who says RAMzine isn’t educational?!
Instrumentally, this is quite a good effort and does echo occasionally with their stated influences (Zeppelin, Whitesnake Scorpions). However, the vocals take some getting used to. Arnaud is, without doubt, an acquired taste. At times he can grate and yet on tracks such as the powerful title track he comes across as a laid-back Bon Scott. ‘Silent Tears (November 13)’ is their heartfelt tribute to the victims of the Bataclan horror in 2015. It is a powerful song with a slow build up with the vocals staying in a sensible range and the guitar phrasing giving a suitably sombre atmosphere. The pace moves up a notch as the solo comes and it is a beautifully realised piece, thereby making this the best track here. A bluesy rocking feel to ‘Last Shot’, a punkish ‘Override’ then ‘Angry Destiny’ is just a female spoken rant with swearing…no, me neither!
So, what we have is a well-played album of rock songs with a vocalist you will either love or hate. It has its moments but I doubt it will make it onto my iPod playlists.
