SikTh – Death Of A Dead Day

Happy 10th anniversary to SikTh‘s Death Of A Dead Day which was originally released back in the distanct past of June 2006.  To mark this significant milestone,  Peaceville Records chose to re-release the album in September 2016.  So how do you review a 10 year old selection of songs that have already had an audience and make it relevant for 2016?   The songs themselves make it easy for you.  They are as fresh, appealing and as relevant as any new release you will hear this year.

If you were to trust in Wikipedia, you would no doubt see all old clichés dragged out about what metal styles SikTh fall into.  Metal, rock, hardcore, metalcore, progressive metal etc.   All of it doesn’t really matter, what does matter is that the Watford based SikTh produced back in 2006 a selection of songs with such differing styles and originality that they deserve to see the light of day again.

At over an hour we have 12 songs with a further three demo versions on top.  As you go through each song it is clear SikTh have had a significant influence on what has come after them.  You can hear their musical influence in most places although you would be hard pressed to find a band with such a diverse lyrical content.

It all starts with the manic thrash metal like song Bland Street Bloom which deals with, of all things, the state of the English High Street and then with Flogging The Horses moves onto the topic of war mongering.  This constant change of topic continues throughout accompanied by all those aforementioned metal styles.

The overall musicianship is excellent and with the two singers Mikee Goodman and Joe Rosser we get a tennis match play off style of delivery as we pass from one to another effortlessly.  The musicianship really come to the fore in the form of the 4th song Summer Rain.  We get a song that surely cannot have any more notes fitted into it.  Well maybe one or two.  I would put this in the speed funk category.  Immediately after we get In This Light and we are chilled out again but only for a short time.

Mermaid Slur at 47 seconds is fairly abstract, completely off the wall and more than likely requires analysis by a psychiatrist to figure out what is going on.  It does lead nicely into When The Moment’s Gone which has quite a cool feel to it.

Part Of The Friction and Where Do We Fall? are perhaps the standout songs from the album and prove both musically and lyrically SikTh are a quality outfit.  Just what were they thinking taking a five year break from 2008 and depriving us of their musical talents.  I’m sure they have their reasons.

If you are looking for great in your face metal from 10 years back, then this is it.  Compare this selection to what is released this year and see if it stands up.  This for me stands up with the best.

Track Listing:

1. Bland Street Bloom 5:40
2. Flogging The Horses 3:32
3. Way Beyond The Fond Old River 5:02
4. Summer Rain 3:35
5. In This Light 4:23
6. Sanguine Seas Of Bigotry 4:17
7. Mermaid Slur 0:47
8. When The Moment’s Gone 5:58
9. Part Of The Friction 5:13
10. Where Do We Fall? 4:40
11. Another Sinking Ship 4:02
12. As The Earth Spins Round 6:37
13. Flogging The Horses (Demo) 4:52
14. Part Of The Friction (Demo) 5:12
15. Where Do We Fall? (Demo) 5:09

Original Release Date: 6 Jun. 2006

• Release Date: 30 Sept. 2016
• Label: Peaceville
• Copyright: SikTh
• Total Length: 1:08:59