Cosmic Conqueror
Dr. Living Dead
•
December 10, 2017
In the 80's revival trend we are witnessing these years, we could say DR. LIVING DEAD! are a natural in this: their deep love for the 80's emerges both from their hardcore laced trash, their sci-fi horror themes, both in the lyrics and in their artworks, winking at dystopic worlds like Blade Runner. The same happens in their latest release "Cosmic Conqueror": vivid and burning colors in its cover design, this is their fourth full release, out once again for Century Media, as happened with their last "Crush the Sublime Gods."
"Coffin Crusher" is the perfect opener: condensed in less than 4 minutes we find harsh and violent vocals, sustained by heavy rhythms, that will stick to the listener. DR LIVING DEAD don't surrender to the temptation of watering their tracks down and all we get are squared and compact bursts of violence in every track. Evolving from their latest releases, we however see here some daring hints from the band: "Into the Eye" is the more expressing example in this direction, a relaxed pace to give variety to the whole album balance. We see DEATH ANGEL influences in tracks like "The Summoning", violent and rushed. If we could find a flaw in this mix, it might be in those episodes, like "Terror Vision", where Dr. Rad clean vocals seem out of place.
Nevertheless, DR LIVING DEAD succeeds in experimenting elsewhere, like in the closing track "Cyber Crime", where doom sonorities fall in perfect place in the mix, with distorted vocals to close this LP. "Cosmic Conqueror" consolidates DR LIVING DEAD technical skills and already solid songwriting with the mentioned added variety to the tracklist, without adding too much frills to their compact sound. As this is worth more than a couple spins, it will surely be a pleasant and sweaty experience during one of their passionate live sessions.
8 / 10
Excellent
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Cosmic Conqueror" Track-listing:
1. Coffin Crusher
2. Can't Kill the Dead
3. The Summoning
4. Terror Vision
5. Cosmic Conqueror
6. Disease to Exist
7. Into the Eye
8. Survival Denied
9. Moment of Clarity
10. Infiltrator/ Exterminator
11. Cyber Crime
Dr. Living Dead Lineup:
Dr. Rad - Vocals
Dr. Toxic - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Dr. Mania - Bass, Backing Vocals
Dr. Slam - Drums
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