DEADSY – Phantasmagore

Phantasmagore is the third full-length album from Deadsy, a California, USA-based band that plays a style of music they call “Undercore.” Prior to Phantasmagore, the five-man group released the long player Commencement (2002) and lots of demo tracks and non-album songs, a handful of which have popped up on various tribute albums.

Regardless of whatever Undercore really sounds like, Deadsy will probably remind lots of people of such acts as Marilyn Manson: heavy, but Pop-like music with lots of atmospheric keyboards, moderately heavy riffs, distorted vocals, and a heavy bottom end. Photos of the band members (who sport names like Carlton Megalodon, Creature, P. Exeter Blue I, Alec Pure, and Dr. Nner) make them look dangerous and scary, but they’re really not. Well, their music isn’t, at least.

Trivia note: P. Exeter Blue I is probably better-known by his real name, Elijah Blue Allman, aka the son of singer/guitarist Greg Allman and Cher.

Most of the songs on Phantasmagore are polished and catchy, with buzzing, slightly-distorted guitars and melodic vocal lines and choruses. All of the tracks here could easily be played on the radio without fear of offending anyone. The tunes have plenty of keyboards and effects, making Deadsy sound a bit “retro” (circa the 1980s) and modern at the same time, which is probably intentional on the band’s part.

Phantasmagore is a respectable listen with no out-and-out bad songs, but it’s one of those discs that doesn’t leave a huge impression; there are a few songs that just seem to “happen” without really leaving their mark. No stinkers, but there are some not really very memorable tracks on this disc. Deadsy’s interesting sound, musical talent, and sense of style will still keep you around until the end of the last song, although this album may have been better if they had dropped one or two tracks.

One of Phantasmagore‘s 11 songs is a cover of the Rolling Stones’ classic “Paint It Black.” Deadsy does a respectable job with this one, being faithful to the original while imparting their own sound to it, making it seem more modern. It’s not a radical update, but it’s still a good one.

Deadsy might be one of those dreaded “___core” bands, but their music is still pretty good, regardless of whatever label they’ve applied to themselves. Phantasmagore is a decent outing from them.