Vol. #112: Dead Earth -“From The Ruins”
Rustbelt Rock Review
By: Z.M. Delgado
Rustbeltrockreview.com
Volume #112: Dead Earth -“From The Ruins”
November 2023
M & O Music
Good Evening, my friends. Welcome to another installment of the Rustbelt Rock Review. This week we’ll be taking a listen to an album I recently received: “From The Ruins” by Cleveland’s own Dead Earth. They are a five man outfit consisting of Vocals, two Guitars, Drums and Bass. Their sound is what I would categorize as Hardcore Metal... or Metalcore... or Beatdown... or Whatever. The specific subgenre that you choose is irrelevant. What matters is this recording is a killer. Packing 11 stone cold tracks into about a 41 minute run time, this is an album that was born to crush. From the first note, to the final echoes, these songs steamroll the listener with absolute authority. Driving tempos, brutal riffs, sick breakdowns are just a few of the characteristics that this collection boasts in plenitude. I could easily go through this album, track by savage track, dissecting the songs, detailing why each and every one is magnificent in it’s own right. However, that would get very long and so I have instead decided to give you my favorites. Here is a list of my stand out songs collected on “From the Ruins.”
From the first note; that’s what I said and I meant it. This album opens with an absolute back breaking track: “Fear No One.” Kicking off the record with a hard charging riff, this song throws the collection into high gear right off the bat. Hammering drumwork pushes forward the verse beneath a coarse and vicious vocal attack. The chorus picks up, throwing out the simple but effective lyric of “I fear no one, ‘cause I don’t give a fuck!” Just short of the three minute mark there is a killer breakdown that will no doubt send moshpits into a fury. It is a fiery and aggressive album opener and it sets the bar high for the remainder of the recording.
My next stand out track is #4 “Discharge.” This one has a very cool vocal style and is a bit on the slower side. It starts up with some Guitar solo action that I really dig. The Vocal begins with a ranting shouted tone, then switches to more of an impassioned spoken word, before returning to the rantings. The chorus rages as it begs to “Discharge the madness!” There is a certain tangible desperation tucked beneath this Vocal that cannot be denied. I find this song to be unique when compared to the tone of the rest of the album and it is a nice change of pace.
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Now something I have thought about this album since my first listen is that it seems to get better, the deeper into it you delve. For that reason we will be fast forwarding considerably for the rest of my fav’s. My next choice cut is #10, “The Hanged Man.” Kicking off with absolutely punishing drums, and a cutting riff, this song feels like nothing short of wrath incarnate. Packed full of apocalyptic imagery it conveys a sense of utter devastation. It also has a very impressive Guitar solo, which may be the best on the recording. When this track breaks down, the Vocalist shouts the names of the four horsemen to huge effect. When I close my eyes I can almost see the cities burning as Dead Earth plays in the foreground.
My final pick, and my favorite song in the collection, is #11 “Burn With Me.” This song begins with some light reverberating chords, that float hauntingly out of the speakers. Then the riff explodes as the rest of the band joins in, creating a wall of emotive sound. The verse kicks in heavy and again assumes that ranting shouted tone of pure rage. The chorus on this song is unbridled passion. There is pain here; real and terrible in it’s force. There are demons being exorcised before our very ears and it is magnificent. The whole thing builds to a final break that is the most explosive moment on the album. This song packs more passion and force into 5 minutes then most bands can cram into an entire album. The author of this piece no doubt went through some serious heartbreak, which fueled some exceptional song writing. Then end result is a song of unquestionable power and relentless fire. This track without a doubt it the culmination of the album and it closes the collection out in titanic fashion.
So in the end, what are my thoughts on Dead Earth’s “From The Ruins?” Well, simply stated, I love it! This is an album that is nasty in it’s tone and iron clad in it’s consistency. From beginning to end it will have you pounding your fists and banging your head. As I stated earlier it seems to gain momentum as it progresses, while holding more than sufficient intensity throughout. This is an album that will grab you on your first listen and will hold on tight with each subsequent play through. I recommend this album to all fans of Hardcore, Hardcore Metal, Metalcore and anything else in the vicinity. Especially for followers of Hatebreed, who I think will particularly enjoy this recording. On that note, I shall bring this review to a close. As always, wear your earplugs and thank you for reading.
Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt,
-Z.M. Delgado
Rustbelt Rock Review
Rustbeltrockreview.com
11/22/2023
(Dead Earth – From The Ruins: An exceptionally brutal and aggressive album, that has equal measures of balls and heart. 11 songs of pure anger, that will have you banging your head from start to finish. Highly recommend.)
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