DEAD END FINLAND is a Melodic Death Metal band hailing from Finland. Formed in 2010, this is the band's fifth full-length album, and contains ten songs. "Northern Winds" is the first track. A heavy electronic sound is present along with a big, hulky riff. The vocals shift from charming cleans to deep harsh, and the melodies are on point. The production is also crystal clear. "Wounded & Bleeding" is a slower song where the clean vocal harmonies expand and develop into full-blown bliss. Symphonic elements dance in the background, and the main riff is weighted. "Heavy Rain" is another mid-tempo song with thick, dense background elements behind a sturdy riff and harsh vocals. Keyboards provide much of said backing sounds, and the melodies in the chorus are quite beautiful.

"Beyond the Distance" is another slower moving song with lamenting vocals and a sad but heavy sound in the guitars. Piano notes sprinkle the background, and the harsh vocals keep the sound grounded in Metal. "In the Dark" has that Melodic Death Metal sound of harmonized guitars and vocals amidst a rich bed of heavy elements. As is common in the genre, they temper the Death Metal tones. "Kaamos" means "polar night" in English. It's a short instrumental mostly of piano and symphonics, connected to the final four songs. "Up So High, Down So Low" is another slow-moving song where the clean vocal harmonies shine. The sound is dark, but also pretty, and it ends in a very nice crescendo,

"Delusions of Grandeur" is a steadier song rich with symphonics. I question the band's overuse of mid-tempo songs at this point, however. Varying the pacing a little can really help the sound to stay fresh. "Bound to Be Reborn" is a darker song that hints at a personal victory amidst some rough circumstances. The main riff is a little simple, but the band develops the melodies nicely, and they come through in the end very strong. "Wrath of God" closes the album. It's another slow moving song with expansive clean vocals. Overall, this was a pretty solid album. The melodies are structured well, although again, some variation in the pacing would help. Some critics might say that the melodic, well-produced sound creates a slickness that points to some patterning by the band. I can hear that side of things, but at the same time, the songs are just enjoyable to listen to. So, in the end, who cares?