Deadlands gives voice to their vices with new EP ‘SEVEN’

Deadlands, a dynamic metalcore duo from Long Island, NY, has delved into the depths to bring us a new EP, SEVEN, analyzing the oft-loved topic of the seven deadly sins. The perfect band for fans of Motionless in White, The Pretty Reckless, Ice Nine Kills, and Knocked Loose.

Kasey Karlsen and CJ Arey show a clear talent for music as they experiment with a variety of styles from industrial, to nu-metal, and even djent. They also take the time to look at each of these sins with a new lens, providing refreshing takes on a tried and true concept.

As the curtains part on this journey the first song, ‘Villain’ is the grand entrance of pride. Through a combination of vicious screams and soothing harmonies Kasey stands above a fallen enemy and laughs as they fail. A deserved victory, an embrace of the darker energy, a willingness to become evil to defeat it. The composition including piano prior to these epic breakdowns gives a haunting quality.

Gleaming like the diamonds referenced in the song, ‘Die In Paradise’ is a shiny, glorious representation of greed. However, as the saying goes, things are far from perfect. Giving a choral style to the clean vocals while still maintaining those signature Deadlands growls, the desire for all that glitters proves it can be extremely destructive

Musically, ‘MORE!’ has a sharp shift in style. There’s a funkier guitar and industrial sound that has been adopted. The instrumental composition takes clear inspiration from Motionless in White. The message in this song, being the most real makes it one of the stronger tracks on the EP. With a heartbreaking cycle of self-sabotage that feels compulsory, it’s relatable.

“We were discussing how we wanted to shine a light on eating disorders and addiction as well as having these compulsions for all-consuming things you can’t control just like the sin of ‘Gluttony’. This sin will literally take until there’s nothing left. The only path is to recover if you’re going to live a healthy and happy life.”
Kasey Karlsen

LOUD WOMEN previously did an article on ‘Limbo’ where I discussed the beauty in the duality of lust. The way desire can turn to destruction and the beautiful echoes of the vocals. It’s an artistic song with a longing that comes from wanting something that was doomed from the start.

‘Kundalini’ featuring The Pretty Wild astounded me. Echoing Unprocessed or Polyphia in the instrumental the song has a romantic energy. Even more shocking was the rap/spoken word section. Deadlands takes the opportunity to take so many stylistic risks in this song and they pay off by making something that is varied and exciting. It lures you in the way envy often does.

For a song about sloth, ‘Wither’ has a crazy amount of energy. Probably my favorite track on the entire EP. The screeching guitar, the variety of style with Kasey’s screaming, the more demonic growls, the more upbeat sections thrown in. It commits the most to the descent into hell theme. It feels dark and terrifying. CJ goes all out with the drum sections as well.

The bookend of starting with ‘Villain’, where pride turns to violence and ending with ‘House Of Cards’ and the sin of Wrath feels poetic in its own way. It almost makes the journey feel cyclical. The tech-y sound is a solid continuation of the past few tracks. The drums almost steal the show with how aggressive they are. This song has the breakdown/blegh combo that is iconic of the metalcore genre. Kasey demonstrates more of her range and with the increased amount of clean vocals compared to ‘Wither’, it is a much more stark contrast.