Prior to reviewing their latest album, World at War, I had never listened to Dead Heat. Based off the “hardcore kids go thrash” aesthetic of their band promo shot and the fact that they’re signed to Triple-B Records, I immediately assumed they were latest purveyors of Power Trip style crossover. After all, Power Trip did release an EP on this boutique hardcore label back in 2014 (The Armageddon Blues Sessions). Well it turns out I couldn’t have assumed more wrong. Dead Heat is a crossover band, but they don’t fall into the typical Power Trip aggro-thrash niche, nor do they specialize in the slightly less popular by today’s standards, but ever prevalent Municipal Waste party-thrash niche.
Dead Heat’s brand of crossover draws heavily from the groovy early 90s sound of bands like Suicidal Tendencies, Cro-Mags, and Prong. Mind you that while these bands started as pure hardcore acts in the 80s, they were young and impressionable well into the 90s. The creeping influence of alt and funk rock played a big part in molding their styles. It’s an oft forgotten chapter in metal history, but not for the boys in Dead Heat. World at War is packed with breakneck thrashing, midtempo mosh riffs, and ignorant breakdowns: A Molotov cocktail of retro crossover just waiting to explode.
I’m not sure who produced this album (I can’t find any credits on the mostly trusty Metal Archives or Discogs), but whoever did deserves major props for making this sound straight out of 1991. The atmosphere is aggressively old school and the riffs are devastatingly heavy from beginning to end. The album opens with “Subterfuge”, which reminds me of Slayer, though with mosh riffs instead of Kerry King 0-0-0-0 riffs. “2 Cents” and “Sick Society” makes it clear that Dead Heat prefers to stay in mosh territory, but they keep it exciting while doing so. Every riff on here makes me either want to thrash around in a circle pit or, dare I say it, unleash a spin kick or two. You’d do the same after hearing the closing breakdown of “Deathwish”.
Though mostly orthodox, World at War does have some surprises. For example, S.O.D. had “March of the S.O.D.” Suicidal had “Pledge Your Allegiance”. Dead Heat has “Age of DH”. Though musically very similar to “Pledge Your Allegiance”, it’s nice to see a new crossover band carry on this age old tradition of having your own anthem. And in true contrarian fashion, my choice cut is the least thrashiest song on the album. Matter of fact, my choice cut isn’t thrash at all. It just so turns out that if they wanted to, Dead Heat could be a kickass traditional metal/hard rock band. Don’t believe me? Check out “Last Call” and tell me to my face it’s not the best Ratt song never written.
World at War is not shabby for a bunch of “hardcore kids gone thrash”. Dead Heat have carved out their own niche and earned their spot at the modern thrash table alongside Enforced, Vulture, and a handful of others keeping the nearly 40 year old genre fresh. Yes old timers, despite Slayer’s retirement, David Ellefson’s dismissal from Megadeth, and Metallica’s continued shell of an existence, thrash metal is alive and well. Dead Heat is making damn sure of it.
7 out of 10
Label: Triple-B Records
Genre: Crossover Thrash
For fans of: Suicidal Tendencies, Cro-Mags, Leeway