ACCVSED - 'Dealers of Doom - Album Review

Lighthouse Music
3 days ago
3 min read

BACKGROUND. This year is proving to be another period of modern metal and rock upheaval, with rising numbers across streams, charts and ticket sales. To meet recent trends and to absolutely no surprise, we also have yet another supercharged German newcomer - ACCVSED, making loud noise from all platforms under the Arising Empire flag. Think the likes of The Oklahoma Kid, Defocus, Half Me and such - heavy, uncompromising, no-bullshit European metalcore of the utmost quality. No shockers here, the band has been teasing their promising debut Dealers of Doom for quite some time, but now that we finally get the beauty fully out in all its glory, it is a perfect time to revisit their noteworthy rise to fame once again.

BAND. A classic story of modern-day metal outfit working hard and simply doing things right to get the attention they deserve, ACCVSED formed in 2021, immediately jumped into singles and EP drops, until they signed to Arising Empire last year. Considering the last five years, for German acts in particular this is pretty much the recipe for instant success, especially when backed by such fresh, uncompromising and determined sound that blends the raw energy and attitude of a rising outfit with the composure and confidence of a seasoned headliner. And just like that, a new heavyhitter enters the scene with a memorable debut and a clear statement of intent for the future.

ALBUM. Direct, concise and straight to the point, Dealers of Doom wastes no time and barely croses the half hour mark, which proves to be more than enough for ACCVSED to deliver the goods. The album is packed tight with bouncy riffage, tight drumming, pulsating bass, furious screaming, with intense emotions flowing throughout and just the right amount of harmonies, singing and electronics here and there to spice up the tracks without excessive complications. ACCVSED draws inspiration from the past and present of the metalcore scene whilst mastefuly avoiding the usual pitfalls of the genre that tend to plague even its standout releases.

SONGS. Following the established standard for contemporary underground debuts, as annoying as expected, almost the entire album has already been released as teasers, from the energetic opener 'Day of the Locust' kickstarting the cycle last year, to the latest single 'Make Sure It Hurts' absolutely stealing the show less than a month ago. From all promos, 'Killer of Minds' and the title track still stand out with their raw energy and punching delivery, whilst 'Never Enough' and 'Avoider' add extra flavour and rich nuances to the hefty mix. From the three new album tracks, 'Total Eclipse of Self' is a proper rager, 'Senescence' is a brilliant pit-starter and future festival anthem, while the chuggy 'Obsidian' wraps the record perfectly, and the rest is history.

FUTURE. Only good things ahead for ACCVSED and the entire new wave of modern German metalcore. Sure, the band might need some polishing and experience to raise to the next level and reach wider crowds, but the foundation is built meticulously to last. Considering the outstanding passion and drive shown in Dealers of Doom, there is plenty left for an even better sophomore album, and some unforgettable tour cycles inbetween. The stage is set for a stellar future ahead, as long as ACCVSED don't get lost in the crowd and keep on playing their cards right.