DeadlightsThe Uncanny Valley

Delivering one of the most unique releases of the year, Deadlights are back with their incredible second album The Uncanny Valley.

MORE: EXCLUSIVE ALBUM PREMIERE: Dr Colossus // REDHOOK: Bad Apples, Bad Decisions and Great Tunes // GOJIRA: ThePower and the Passion // VOID OF VISION: Something Old, Something New REVIEWS: REDHOOK: Bad Decisions // DROPKICK MURPHYS: Turn Up That Dial // ROYAL BLOOD: Typhoons // GOJIRA: Fortitude // CLOWNS: Does It Matter? // THE MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES: When God Was Great

Showcasing a whirlwind of genres, the groups newest effort is not quite prog, djent or mathcore, whilst simultaneously being all three. It’s an incredibly technical characteristic that few bands can execute, but its impact is groundbreaking.

In a similar vein to Letlive’s The Blackest Beautiful or Every Time I Die’s Low Teens, the consistent changes to tempo and genre may at first make the albums output sound muddled. But, upon further listens fans will realise its complexities and be drawn to certain moments, ultimately drawing them back until they realise how much they love the album. It’s an incredible approach to execute and the aspects that get better with each listen create such an interesting quality to Deadlights music. Truly displaying they are not to be a band taken at face value.

The Uncanny Valley shows a band that aren’t afraid to take a risk. It’s Deadlights at their finest, solidifying that they are an act who wants to push their own sound.

In terms of instrumentation, The Uncanny Valley also does not falter. It’s downtuning of rhythm sections mixed with intricate off-tempo percussion gives off a Tool feel in opener The Uncanny Valley whilst Schedule 1 shows more of a traditional metalcore sound; although the clean choruses may at times feel predictable the positions of the songs breakdowns certainly do not. The highly innovative album also ties in fast paced snarehits in Contact giving homage to the East-Coast hardcore sound of the 90’s as well as Lovecraft inspired narration in [I See The Future]. 

By the time the album reaches Pythia, you’ve heard it all; which is why the subdued nature and minimalistic qualities of one of the album’s final moments stands up as a highlight. Akin to Polaris crowd favourite Sonder, Pythia’s stripped back nature allows the song’s emotion to be the driving force, making it a song with lyrics that are impossible to ignore. The Uncanny Valley shows a band that aren’t afraid to take a risk. It’s Deadlights at their finest, solidifying that they are an act who wants to push their own sound.

STANDOUT TRACKS: Schedule 1, [I See The Future], Pythia
STICK THIS NEXT TO: Letlive, Tool, Polars