There used to be a time when side projects and “super-groups” were a big no-no in Metal. You had your band, you knew your place, and that’s where you stayed or else. Nowadays of course, you can’t walk down to the shops without another twenty bands trading members and forming new acts in the time it takes to buy a pint of milk and a cucumber sandwich.

At the top of the food chain, printed publications and online magazines regularly fall all over each other in a near-orgasmic frothing frenzy every time the likes of Corey Taylor or Dave Grohl so much as fart in the general direction of another possible project, or if someone who used to be in Guns N’ Roses for a week or two suddenly announces they’re working on an absolutely and positively ground-breaking new musical enterprise. But somewhere down towards the dark and shadowy recesses of the rock and metal hierarchy, sneaking under the radar of the majority of listeners, is where some of the real hidden gems are lying in wait, ready to be unearthed. And in this desolate and forgotten realm, where daylight is naught but a faded memory, is where we find ourselves today.

You know… Surrey.

It would be too much of a stretch to label Lowestoft’s Dead Soul Communion as a “supergroup”; more like a collection of musicians you know predominantly by their former/parent acts. The brainchild of guitarist Daniel Finch, formerly of Devilment (you know, the band fronted by Dani Davey that isn’t Cradle of Filth), the band also includes drummer Simon Dawson (British Lion and ex Dearly Beheaded), vocalist Edwin Mascorn (ex Immortal Empire), Paul Jensen of Devil’s Music on acoustic guitar, keyboards, and backing vocals, Kev Jackson (Fifth Season, Synaptik) on bass, and Dan Jackson (ex Devilment) on guitar, with Marc Hoyland (Heathen Deity, 13 Candles) brought in for additional keyboards.

At nearly an hour in length, and having taken two years to write and record, Dead Soul Communion is the band’s self-titled, independently released (def2music) début. Opener ‘My Beautiful Mistake’ begins with a simple but sturdy riff before becoming something not entirely dissimilar to a nocturnal merging of Devin Townsend and Paradise Lost. ‘The Communion’ is faster paced and features a strong riff swathed in keyboards, but as good as the song is, the final section feels tagged on and doesn’t really belong.

‘The Last Grain of Sand’ and ‘Masked Deceiver’ both feature a Middle Eastern vibe, while ‘Ghosts’ is ten minutes of gothic melancholia with hints of Opeth, but suffers from sounding a little too cobbled together. ‘Suicide Lullaby’ begins with a jaunty violin before giving way to another solid, strident riff with a big powerful beat. Industrial Gypsy Goth-Prog, anyone?

‘As Dead As It Gets’ has echoes of Sisters of Mercy among the sweep picking, Thrash riffs, and growled vocals. ‘Chains of Division’ sounds like Die Krupps getting off with Ministry at an underground bondage party, while cunningly titled closer ‘The Ending’ finds the band utilising all the weaponry in their arsenal, and adding some distinctly none-more-English narration into the bargain.

An interesting and eclectic mix of genres (we also get some Martin Walkyier-esque singing, borderline Black Metal vocals, and Theatre of Tragedy style sections to add to the lively Prog, Goth, Industrial, Death, and Thrash concoction), Dead Soul Communion is a good, if slightly uneven, first step on the path to bigger things.

7.5/10

GARY ALCOCK