The album is still not particularly good, but there is something else that came to mind, possibly something more important than the album itself. As fans of music, we are always in search of the next great thing. We are not content to rest on our laurels and accept whatever the labels choose to feed us. This is a very good thing. Unfortunately, this has had another effect; it has bred, at times, an unhealthy elitism when it comes to music. If the band/album is not on the cutting edge, they are not worth listening to. I have been guilty of this on occasion.
This applies to Deadlock. Manifesto is not a great album, it is not destined to be remembered for any great deal of time, but that does not mean it should be ignored in the short term, or the long term if you so choose. The music is solid, catchy, and easy to groove to. Sometimes that is all I need.
There are definitely a few solid tunes on here, including "Martyr to Science," "The Brave/Agony Applause," "Dying Breed," and even "Deathrace." My biggest complaint about the execution is that it seems the vocals are sometimes sound out of key/flat. It is a little weird, as they will come in and not sync up well with the rest of the band.
Bottomline. No, not a great album. It certainly has its flaws, but it is still eminently listenable and worth spending a little time with. If nothing else, the production is spotless.
Mildly Recommended.
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