Synth Single Review: “Paladin” by DEADLIFE

by Karl Magi

DEADLIFE’s “Paladin” slams forward with a wall of raging sound, howling and tearing like a hellish storm as it is slashed by a blade-like melody, crying out with blinding energy before the gigantic underlayer heaves. A melody rises, a heady mixture of pain, strength and determination while the rhythm smashes like a weapon through armour.

A piano hovers with spectrally tracing tendrils, as unremittingly heavy percussion shatters and a ghostly, wordless vocal line wriggles. Feelings of triumphant, sacred energy permeate the crushing melody before far away voices drift like undead creatures into an echoing void while the piano trembles with hurt and fear.

Like a deadly creature, full of ravening hunger, the track surges again, while the melody lacerates with deadly strength. Minor key vocals drift like otherworldly beings, joined by melodic tones that climb with a fearful warning. Eldritch terror fills me before the track ends on floating tones that drift into quiet.