EP REVIEW: Captive – Dead Register

Gothic doomgaze thrives chillingly throughout DEAD REGISTER’s Captive EP. Following on from 2016 album Fiber, Atlanta trio DEAD REGISTER are a living, breathing collision of the innovations of new wave with the morose elements of doom and black metal. Comprised of husband and wife dual bass onslaught M. Chvasta and Avril Che plus sticks-man Danny Ryann, their fresh genre-bending approach packs well into a five-track EP yet, at a time where bright-eyed new ideas are appreciated and needed, a second full-length would have been lovely.

The assertive groove of title opener Captive creates a solemn environment where front man Chvasta’s gloomy bass meets his morose vocals. If THE KILLERS’ Brandon Flowers stepped in for BAUHAUS, this would be the product. The multiple facets of Che are clear here also, bringing together all elements into a cohesive order for a 5-minute step-by-step class on how to bend genre rules without alienation. Chvasta’s voice throughout Ender further breaks free from the monotonous gothic template and presents an unpredictable side to doom, with its swaying lullaby-esque gaze tempo still supplying a brooding ethos.

“I can feel you drifting away,” echoes Heresy as it proves the catchiest of the bunch, armed with its neat riff and surreal distortions to make an almost quirky outlook. In contrast, by turning the original on its head by simply changing the vocal pace, DEAD REGISTER make DEAD AND GONE classic Blood From A Ghost far more haunting than before, both swaying and punchy in equal measure. Far from black and white gothic solemnity, closer Monochrome brims with energy and phenomenal percussion from Ryann, wholly embarking on a doom state as it soon spirals into despair and Chvasta’s frantic cries for help are left unanswered.

In refusing to be held Captive by two closely related genres, DEAD REGISTER are venturing toward an intriguing realm into which this EP only gives a brief and tantalising peek – these are ones to watch.

Rating: 7/10

Captive is out now via AVR Records.

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