Mediocre Meandering
When original vocalist Peter Dolving returned to Swedish thrash titans The Haunted for 2004's "rEVOLVEr" LP, it coincided with a shift in the band's sound towards a more contemporary hardcore/metalcore-influenced style. New album "The Dead Eye" continues down this path. Recorded by a producer who has worked with Himsa and Sick Of It All, the CD showcases a more moderate, restrained band to that which recorded the blistering "One Kill Wonder". The guitars have developed a dissonant metalcore edge (although there are still few metal guitarists operating today who can match Anders Bjorler for crafting satisfyingly meaty riffs which hit you right between the eyes) and tempos have been savagely reined back to a general mid-paced meander with little trace remaining of the enthusiastic blasting of old. The Haunted are too talented to ever be merely mediocre, however, and there's real class evident in this album. Basically, if you enjoyed "rEVOLVEr" then you'll doubtless be pleased by the way in which "The Dead Eye" builds upon its themes, but if, like me, you were disappointed by that LP's dilution of The Haunted's sound with more mainstream tropes then it's likely that this new album will cause further brow furrowing.
Although he wasn't to all tastes, I still miss former vocalist Marco Aro's wounded ox bellow and I can't help but think that Peter Dolving is the band's weak link. "The Dead Eye" sees Dolving edging ever further into metalcore territory, which might not be such a bad thing except that his sore-throat shout is now pretty much interchangeable with that of most vocalists parading their asymmetrical haircuts on the Ozzfest second stage (where, of course, The Haunted spent a lot of time themselves last year). Furthermore, he's developed a disturbing tendency to attempt lengthy passages of clean singing which come across as bland at best and toe-curling at worst, all delivered in the most misguided sub-Phil Anselmo Texan accent ever committed to tape.
I don't for an instant doubt that the band's intentions are pure and that their integrity remains intact. In any case, if anyone is entitled to their share of the metalcore cash-cow, it's The Haunted, considering their At The Gates connection and the fact that the entire metalcore genre is little more than a mass circle jerk to that band's "Slaughter of the Soul" album. The bottom line is, if you're going to buy a metalcore record, it might as well be one as accomplished as "The Dead Eye," but there'll always be those of us who mourn that the rabid and raging uber-thrash of their Dolving-fronted debut and the subsequent Aro era has apparently been consigned to the past.
By the way, if you're interested and can still get hold of it, the limited edition version of this album includes a couple of bonus tracks as well as a DVD with a 'making of' documentary, videos and live stuff.