The seventh studio album, “Shapes of Midnight”, out via Killer Candy Records on September 18th, is more guitar-oriented than its predecessor, “Nell’ora Blu“, which was a tribute to the Italian crime-noir movies of the 60s and 70s era. The album’s theme creeps from the darkness and unfolds grim occultism inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death.

The Deadbeats has given us plenty of gloomy, uncanny songs in the past, but the instant appeal on “Shapes of Midnight” is backed by galloping riffs and an array of guitar harmonies. The eerie atmosphere creeps out of the outstanding, fashionable vocals; there are tons of memorable catchy pop hooks that will drench your ears in psychedelic organ. The retro sensibility is brought to the doom tradition with more stylized hippie guitar solos, and the keyboards are reminiscent of Ray Manzarek (The Doors), are well-crafted in “When Evil Wakes”.

Guitar rhythms spew a ghostly aura of echoing hazy vocals that will numb your soul while the up-tempo section quickly sticks in your head for days. One of the standout tracks is “Don’t Let It Control You”. The synth opening with the heavy guitar riffs sends chills down your spine.

The vocals and dark rhythms fade as the tempo shifts to a speedy rock pace that captures the heavier side. There’s a new dark facet that surrounds the album especially on “Psycho on the Loose”; the plodding drumming brings in a unique mixture of heaviness. The band is a masterclass in exerting new ideas that surpass anything they actually achieved in the past.

Bubbling keyboards blend well, exuding purple smoke over the rock-drenched rhythms; the approach to psychedelia maintains quality and unprecedented aesthetics. This combination creates many unsettling, menacing atmospheres fused with doom-laden riffs; the effective hooks are thrilling, while the vocals add a dimension to the catchy chorus.

The Deadbeats blends many styles in such a way that it will satiate your ears with fuzzy groove riffs before the slow plodding drums evoke something uncanny in the track “I Won’t Sleep (‘Til You’re Gone)” be it the echoing saxophone in the distance or the keyboards. These ghostly songs on the newest album enhance the mystique and the feeling of gloom that instantly possesses you. Jazzy rock beats define this track with a touch of creativity. The spacey keyboards add another layer to the sense of macabre, and down-tuned guitars sketch out a skeletal dance around the altar of candles.

The dynamics are heavy, threaded by bass guitar and slow-churning doom dirges that weave cobwebs. There are minimal elements like the guitar solos in “The Other Side of the Sky” that give off a 70s rock vibe. The album sees the band refining its signature sound and showing a unique ability to use cliches creatively and imaginatively; all this builds towards the final track “Sleep No More”.

The psychedelic keyboards reframe the song structure; the guitars create a wall of sound and add an element of doom; the slow pace of the drums and guitars contributes to the whole menacing sound.

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