Member Since: 25/07/2005
Band Members:
*Photos by Brook Mrkvicka
DISCOGRAPHY
MESSENGER OF DEATH
4/7/2008 - Rotting Corpse Records
IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT
6/1/2004 - Self-Released
Influences: BATHORY
DISSECTION
SODOM
DEATH
KREATOR
MORBID ANGEL
Sounds Like: True metallic fury has been unleashed as Deadnight blasts forth with Messenger of Death, one of the most hammering, true METAL albums of the year. Deadnight creates a twisted, brain-blasting, wall of metal chaos that will leave riff-crazy metalheads in a state of nirvana. Tracks like Burned Alive,Keeper of Souls, Unholy Revenge and Die with Me are tight-as-fuck, blistering assaults packed and overflowing with enough Destruction/Kreator-like riffwork to transport you back in time to the mid 80s faster than you can buckle your fucking bullet belt. Throw in a cover painting by "Ken McCracken" that would have been right at home on any King Diamond vinyl and you have one of the most essential metallic purchases of the year.
9/10 - David Horn (SOD Magazine)
This review will be slightly different. In it you will not find any of the usual metaphors, similes or prepositional phrases used to describe the bands on display, nor will you be subjected to the customary comparisons or trappings that us scribes are so wont to employ. Chicago's Deadnight deserve as much. So, in celebration of the band's latest release, Messenger of Death, I ask you to dig deep into your forgotten closet of '80s metal cliches. Reclaim that acid/stoned wash denim jacket clad with Slayer, Venom, Kreator and Possessed buttons. Reclaim that old math textbook emblazoned with the ghastly logos of Sacrifice, Death, Obituary and early-Morbid Angel. Adorn those appendage-constricting jeans, accessorized with your trusty bullet belt. Anyway, you get the picture, these guys are old school. What is most surprising about Deadnight is that their vicious blackened thrash assault is executed by two dudes, not five, as the music would have you believe. I know, I said I wouldn't do it, but the reviewer in me can't resist throwing out at least a few cliches and comparisons , so here goes: riffs and leads soar like that of the mythical phoenix, barbarous rhythms resound from the bowels of hell, and inhumane vocals of the Dissection kind mutilate and eviscerate. That being said, if yu have a predilection toward mid to late '80s thrash, Deadnight is most certainly your cup o' tea.
8/10 - Jason Deaville (Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles)
A no-frills approach that emphasizes razor sharp riffs, speedy gallops and conventional, yet skillfully written song structures goes a long way toward making the disc memorable and menacingly fun. It is primarilly Mike's raspy vocals and the lyrical content that put the"blackened" in the duo's thrash attack. Songs lie "Burned Alive" and the title track exemplify an album full of molten, old-school thrash riffing and screaming guitar solos, as well as some hooky songwriting. "Die With Me" departs just a hair from the norm by incorporating flashes of traditional metal, particularly the lengthy, melodic guitar solo. Messenger of Death burns hot and leaves a favorable impression.
- Scott Alisoglu (Metal Maniacs)
What DEADNIGHT does in terms of melodic guitar is more closely related to what DISSECTION was doing about a decade ago; the guitar leads, while melodic, are distressing and melancholic as opposed to upbeat and harmonious. When they chose to, DEADNIGHT can construct an atmosphere easily comparable to a band like BATHORY.
On the opposite end of things, DEADNIGHT can also thrash with the best of them. This element of diversity is truly the greatest aspect of "Messenger Of Death". It would be easiest to think of DEADNIGHT as early KREATOR with a more focussed level of cohesion as well as an added dose of melody and epic-ness, but the music they play is really it’s own entity, and one that deserves to be separate from generic genre labels.
I can’t recommend this album enough. It is fucking class from start to finish.
9.5/10 - The Metal Observer
Record Label: Searching!
Type of Label: Unsigned