Search - Deadstar Assembly :: Unsaved

A few steps better, a step back

Q-Tip | Deptford, NJ | 07/13/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was one excitedly looking forward to the release of this album. It was definately worth the wait.



The recording quality alone surpasses that of their debut album, and Dearborn's vocals have definately improved a bit. Songs like Dejected, Naive, and Killing Myself Again really stick out. They are catchy, and in your face. And Ashes Will Fall is a great "ballad" so to speak, and is a great shift in the album's direction. Also on the "ballad" side, Bled is amazing, and possibly my favorite song on the album.



The guitars sound less crunchy than the first release, which bothered me at first, but i got used to it really quickly. Most of the drums sound real this time instead of all electronic. However, one thing that kinda upset me about the album is the synths. Do i love the synths? Yes, I do. Trust me, they are all awesome sounding. However, i'm rather dissapointed in that they sound like generic synths. On their debut release a lot of the synths sounded very original and unique sounding.



One other thing about this album is it gets a bit tiresome at the end. I tend to get bored after Bled. I mean there are a bunch of great tracks on here, maybe three that i find mediocre (the instrumental interludes seemed kind of pointless). And i'm sorry, but i cannot stand the song Insurrection at all.



Other than that, this album is a great leap forward for the band. So like i said, it is full of amazing tracks and worth the buy. For fans of Manson, Orgy, Nine Inch Nails, Crossbreed, Spineshank, pick this one up. And go see them live! They put on a good show too."

It won't disappoint their fans

Murat Batmaz | Istanbul, Turkey | 10/25/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I haven't heard Florida-based goth rockers DeadStar Assembly's earlier work, so I have no reference points to compare it with their new disc Unsaved. The music on this platter contains a total of fifteen tracks clocking in at over 50 minutes, and teetering the thin line between gothic pop and industrial rock.



The album starts with the two-part title track "Unsaved"; the first one immediately stands out for its thick sound, bringing forth pulsating drum beats and building up to a nice crescendo before it segues into the comparatively heavier second part. The rhythm guitars on the album are used sparingly, as much of the atmosphere is conveyed through multi-track keyboard melodies and synth patches. The song does delve into a full-on goth rock style in its final section, following the doubled vocals of Dearborn. Simmering 80's synths characterize the industrial-tinged "Killing Myself Again", blending catchy alternative rock choruses and little touches of electronica. "Dejected" is a more modern piece with lots of turntable scratching and a playful rhythmic bottom; whilst the deeply electronic and textured "Naive" and the ballady "And Ashes Will Fall" are among the more moving and thought-out numbers. The use of acoustic guitars on the latter lends it a different sonic quality. The blend of dissonant sounds of "Showing Teeth" and the oft-repeated chorus of "Darker Now", with some cool guitar harmony development in the back, also contribute to the overall flow of Unsaved.



That said, DeadStar Assembly's songwriting is nothing overtly original or unheard of. Their strength lies moreso in crafting solid goth-flavoured song that have both powerful crunch and big, boomy rhythmic aweareness. The production is amazing and should appeal to fans of this kind of music greatly."

Worth your time...

K. J. Peoples | 07/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This entire album is brilliant. If you're into hearing a new industrial band that is I'm sure you'll be seeing in the future alot more, pick this one up!!"