Dead As You Die (REVIEW)

Mendeed - The Dead Live by Love (Nuclear Blast):
Mendeed's first one was a blatant Shadows Fall rip, but their latest is more of the Children of Bodom/Dragonforce speed power-death/Nintendo-Thrash/ADD-overdrive variety. So much so, in fact, that the 99-track copy protection on the promo makes it difficult to tell when one song ends and the next one starts. Pretty well done, though, and they avoid Dragonforce's biggest problem, in that the vocals actually fit with the music by alternating between growling and singing and Mustaine-whining when the tempo calls for it. The band's ambition only occasionally over-extends its reach, so most of the wankery isn't too embarrassing. The songs themselves, however, hew closer to the Dragonforce "wow that was cool and fast and I don't remember a damn bit of it the second it's over" style than the Bodom catchiness-first approach. Mendeed do try for big vocal hooks. The hooks just don't stick. "Gravedigger" probably comes the closest, with its "Reap what you sow!" chant. Not particularly original or memorable, but a very enjoyable listen. Fans of Children of Bodom or Dragonforce should dig this, big surprise. It makes great workout music!