Run With The Torch

Dedicted’s Myspace
Dedicted’s website

Living in a rather small city, with a population no more than 75k and a reasonably old one (retired people come here to die … or at least relax). I can’t say there isn’t a big selection of bands to start with. But often that doesn’t mean there is less chance of you telling others they have to hear this great band hailing from your hometown. Because this is exactly what I’m doing right here.

Dedicted aren’t exactly an unknown in the Belgian metal scene, tho it took 9 years for the band to release their first album, this on Shiver Records. It’s hard to describe this album, it’s influenced by math metal such as Meshuggah, melodic death and metalcore, or at least that’s how I experience it. It features eight tracks which isn’t a lot, but the songs ranging from 4.20 to 6.30 minutes does fill the shiny plastic disc well.

Dedicted have a fresh sound, it’s more than just those influences I’ve mentioned before. Math riffs switch often to less technical and more melodic ones as the harsh but sharp grunts switch for melodic vocal lines of the drummer. Variation is something I something I appreciate a lot and Dedicted delivers well on that front, they even are not afraid to throw in some short, simple but good guitar solo’s.

All in all this is a great debut album, my opinion of this band may have been boosted as I do feel proud these guys are from my town but that shouldn’t deter you from acquiring it, especially if you are a fan of math/tech metal or if you love it when bands combine different styles successfully. However, it might take you some time to fully appreciate it. The clean vocals by the drummer at first for me, sounded monotonous, lacking… but it grew on me. To be honest though, I would find it no shame if someone else was found to do the clean vocals on future albums because I fear it could be holding this band back from breaking through on a larger scale.

PJ,