REVIEW: DEAD SHAPE FIGURE – The Disease Of St. Vitus

 

DEAD SHAPE FIGURE – The Disease Of St. Vitus

Dynamic Arts Records

In my opinion, many newer bands that attempt to play traditional metal often struggle to find their own identity and, as a result, try to compensate by overproducing their releases. They tend to fill their albums with excessive effects, polished production, and technical displays meant to impress the listener rather than create memorable songs.

DEAD SHAPE FIGURE from Finland play modern thrash metal, and there is no doubt that they are talented musicians. The band’s lead guitarist is particularly impressive, delivering some excellent solos that demonstrate both skill and confidence. However, beyond this aspect, the overall sound of the album feels quite familiar, especially within the modern thrash metal scene. The songs follow many of the genre’s established patterns, and I often found myself missing a stronger personal character or a more distinctive musical identity.

The main impression I get from this release is that everything seems carefully designed to impress the listener through technical ability and production quality, rather than focusing on creating songs that stay with you after the album ends. After listening to the entire CD, the main thing I will remember is the guitarist’s ability and the quality of the solos, but unfortunately, not many of the songs themselves.

Of course, this is only my personal opinion, and I can understand why younger metal fans or listeners who enjoy a more modern approach to thrash metal might find this band appealing. Personally, I have always preferred bands that can achieve a strong impact through simplicity, atmosphere, and memorable songwriting rather than relying mainly on technical execution.

I recommend giving DEAD SHAPE FIGURE a listen before making any final decision, as fans of modern thrash metal may find elements here that they will appreciate.

Nick Parastatidis