Italian band DEEP is an entity of which I have been unable to find much information, apart from the band being Italian that is, and that they are based out of Gorizia. “Vol. 1” is their debut album, and was initially digitally released on Bandcamp, while the CD edition courtesy of Swedish label Transubstans Records was available in December of 2013.
If it is one word that defines this album, lo-fi is it. This is a band that, at least to my ears, sounds like they try to be some kind of doom metal alternative to bands like The White Stripes, and as such ventures go not all that successful in doing so as well I’ll have to admit. They have the approach fairly well in place, but what they lack is mixing, production and, most importantly of all, truly good songs.
As far as approach goes, Deep have managed to uncover and explore a fair amount of compelling riff structures, they apply some rather intriguing harmony textures on top as well, and fairly often in the appropriate places too, and they have a good feeling for effective and suitable drum patterns to place beneath their riffs. The bass is also, possibly, used to good effect. At least that is the impression I get in two of the three instances where the bass guitar is given the sole limelight, otherwise the bass tends to be drowned out a bit here.
The problem for me is that these riffs first and foremost are overly explored, and secondly that they are used in compositions that doesn’t really come across as all that well developed nor planned. The greater majority of the songs lacks a proper development, at least as I experience them, although it could be that the songs repetitive tendencies masks that aspect of the material. A few exceptions does appear though, Long Haired Youth being the most promising in that context, and on the concluding part of Sonic Mantra Deep showcase how their approach is used to a much better effect when utilizing delicate, light toned guitars with plenty of room for reverb as well. Those last couple of minutes of Sonic Mantra is a pure and true delight to my ears.
Elsewhere this album would have fared a lot better for me if the production had been of better quality. Deep know how to uncover intriguing distorted guitar riffs that fits doom and stoner metal very well indeed, but the manner in which the guitar sound have been produced it comes across as a buzzing, insistent presence rather than a heavy, majestic one. Which isn’t a good thing as far as my musical tastes go. The drums sounds flat and tinny rather than the forceful rhythm provider it should be in circumstances such as these too, and the end result is that this is an album that basically lacks depth, impact and just about any references to heavy in the true meaning of the word. The odd way the vocals have been mixed doesn’t help either, and while some of the songs sports an interesting take on the lead vocals I keep wondering, in these circumstances, whether they are actually planned or if they are more of an accidental feature.
Deep isn’t a band without talent and not without promise either, and while the songs may be the main lacking element a good quality producer could alter this rather underwhelming production into a passable creation exploring moods, atmospheres and sounds that in sum would be rather compelling, even if used within a context that appears more random and improvised than well planned developed and performed. As “Vol. 1” appears right now this will be an album with a limited sphere of interest however, with fans of demo quality and lo-fi doom metal the main part of it. At least as I experienced this production.
My rating: 43/100
