-Greg’s Take-

When we first met DECEIT, they were barely coming into their own. They had re-thought Massive Attack’s “Teardrop” and the cover-band turned self-developing sound, were just starting to peak their head into originality. Their self-titled sound was easily associated with the likes of the Foo Fighters and Pearl Jam, but not entirely lacking hints of uniqueness.

Enter Nine, the ten track album.

The misnomer that is DECEIT rules your thought process yet again, as a follow up to their DECEIT 2010 EP, Nine proves once more that there is nothing deceitful about these Italians power rockers. Kicking off the rock, “Wolfman” stutters out of the gates. The opening track is thick with all-that-is-rock distortion and power drums, but feels like they’re trying too hard. “Out of Project,” the following track, settles down, brings forth melody and reaffirms my thoughts that the five-some can bring it. They follow a safe rock formula through “Unreal” and “The Fall,” even hesitating for a moment to curb the pace on “Too Fighters” with an acoustic opening, before coming to rest on the aptly titled “Last Song”. This final track opens like an Italian Guns N Roses, before twisting and contorting its body of dynamic rock into a somewhere between Avenged Sevenfold and the DECEIT we’ve come to know. DECEIT grows a lot within the confines of Nine. They’ve definitely come a long way from first EP to debut album.

I’m very pleased to experience the growth DECEIT has obtained with Nine. Though it is not quite the striking power rock that will overrun the mainstream, it is a huge step in the right direction. Whether you’re here in the states or elsewhere in the world, keep an eye on DECEIT, these guys rock and the future is wide open for them.

-Vincent’s Take-

If you put the new album by Italian band Deceit on your stereo at full volume, I sincerely hope that you have something well anchored to hold you down, because, believe me, you will be completely washed away like yellow leaves in autumn in the Italian Pianura Padana the moment you hit play. If you are looking for something that can energize you or you love American grunge with a stoner’s powerful energy (they define their music as “Wrock”, which, no, does not mean Woman Republicans Of Central Kentucky) Nine is worth checking out.

Echoing Alice in Chains and QOTSA, the ten fast-paced songs composing Nine run one after another, without a single moment of pause. They keep a fast-paced rhythm, even in songs like “First Father” or “Too Fighters,” which appear to be rock ballads before flowing into full instrumental rage with shouted lyrics, without filter, for diehard fans of the genre. I have to say that in Italy, since the early days of the 21st century, this kind of music is growing more and more in the so-called “underground” and that many bands go this way, certainly pushed by the influences from overseas. But listening to every song on the album, I can easily say Deceit seems to have a little something extra.

Each track on the album does not expire in a pathetic aping of their eminent American fellows, in fact, while going over the same vein, they follow their way, at least in the growing European independent scene, made up of warm, defined sounds, vitriolic lyrics and a production which, although due to the efforts of a young unsigned band, sounds like the best of the Americans. The wall of sound erected by Mike (guitars), Francis (drums), Jag (bass) and Marcello (guitars) is so powerful that it really pushes the speakers in my house to their limit. Bruno’s voice is absolutely versatile, able to sing verses both in an almost whisper and then in a powerful, to the natural edge of a growl and scream (assisted by backing vocals that often give a clear boost to the song itself). Despite being all so above average, it also must be said that the album always seems to reach the peaks, but does not fulfill all expectations. It is true that songs like “Wolfman” or “First Father” are actually very complete tracks, and that Nine as a whole is very well orchestrated, but there is the feeling that we should really expect, almost demand, more from a band with such musical and compositional potential. In certain tracks, Deceit seems to be more daring and has developed a well-defined part of their work, like when lazy, but smart student focuses their efforts in writing something profound during a test.

Fortunately, the band consists of musicians who, even though this is their “debut”, have already matured significantly since their self-titled EP. They give the audience ten tracks with personality and temperament. This is absolutely the way to go and when you have so much potential, in the end, that potential will make the decisive step to standing out above the rest.

Continuate così ragazzi, che spaccate!