ALBUM REVIEW: DMNS – Alleviate

Dutch/German supergroup ALLEVIATE have been growing in popularity since they released their debut single Die For Me, and it’s easy to see why. Their powerful sound combines heavy breakdowns and catchy riffs, and now on their debut album DMNS they present ten songs that have something for everyone.

The opening title track pulls no punches as it kicks off with a brilliant death scream before launching into a fast-paced metal song that wonderfully blends the screamed and sung vocals, as indeed the band do throughout the album. One of the best things about DMNS is how coherent it all is. Even though the songs have their sonic differences – for example, Trying To Survive is a metalcore song, whereas Broken incorporates synths into the mix – there is no denying that the band sound brilliant together. Furthermore, as each song is different, DMNS gets to play to the strengths of a whole host of subgenres, from the experimentation of post-hardcore to the brutality of death metal.

That said, the album is far from perfect. Whilst ALLEVIATE succeed in the music department, the lyrical content is a little rusty. The band talk about keeping one’s head up during tough times, which is a very important lesson that we all learn in life, but one that has certainly been overdone over the years and runs the risk of making them sound like any other metal band.

However, this is still early days for ALLEVIATE, and they have plenty of time to improve. Furthermore, the wide variety of genres on this album saves it. Pacing-wise, the album constantly keeps you on your toes as you have no idea where it is going to go next. Alive is a euphoric anthem of positivity, whereas Better is a harsh and fast-paced song that will translate well in a live setting. Each of the songs is fast-paced, but thanks to the variety of runtimes, the album sounds neither too rushed nor too slow.

Ultimately DMNS is a strong debut album by a very exciting new band. The lyrics may be a bit cliché, but it is in the instrumental department where ALLEVIATE really shine. All their influences work well together, and they are clearly very confident in their sound. Whilst it isn’t perfect, DMNS marks ALLEVIATE out as one of the most exciting new bands to emerge in the metal scene.

Rating: 7/10

DMNS is out now via Arising Empire.

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