Deadheads - Loadead

Published November 18 2015

*=Staff's pick	There's A Hole In The Sky Out Of Here Shine On* Empty Howls Let Loose The Fool* The Need To Sleep When Blood Runs Out* What's True The Horror UPC

Genre	Hard Rock	Manne Olander	Vocals
Tracks	10	Manne Olander	Guitar
Running time	33 Min.	Rickard Hellgren	Guitar
Label	High Roller Records	Christoffer "Sigge" Palmen	Bass
Release	October 30, 2015	Tim Ferm	Drums
Country	Sweden	-	Keyboard
Producer	R. Hallin, K. Ragnstam
Similar artists	The Hellacopters, Nashville Pussy

Loadead is the second album by Gothenburg, Sweden based rockers Deadheads, following their debut This Is Deadheads First Album (It Includes Electric Guitars) from last year. I've never actually listened to them before doing this review. I have, however, noticed that they seem to be an appreciated live act and they've been doing a lot of gigs in their home town Gothenburg. Perhaps it's time I went to one of their shows?

Listening to Loadead, comparisons with e.g. The Hellacoptes are inevitable. Although there indeed are musical similarities, the main thing the two bands have in common I would say is the ability to write extremely catchy melodies, as well as a craftsmanship in the production. Piano, tambourine, acoustic guitars etcetera are used intelligently and carefully, rather to make songs more dynamic and nuanced than to take over the sound completely. In contrast to Hellacopters, Deadheads have a much heavier and less pop-ish sound as well, which is a big plus in my book.

Although I had no real idea of what to expect, I had some initial prejudice. There are a lot of bands playing this type of gritty rock 'n' roll, so why give my precious time to Deadheads? There is a rather simple answer to that question: because Loadead is a very enjoyable album with diverse and well-written songs. While Deadheads might not do anything really new, what they do - rock 'n' roll, that is - they do very well. There is a true joy and passion in the music that makes them hard not to like.

Performance	Originality	Production	Vocals	Songwriting
7	5	8	7	8

Summary
7,5 chalices of 10 - Blidmark