The pioneers of the ‘New Wave of South African Heavy Metal’ are back yet again with the second single called ‘Monuments’ from their upcoming 3rd album,’Vitriol Inc’
Deadline openly bow down to the memory of 80’s Thrash Metal, Power Metal, Heavy Metal and on occasion Sleaze Rock, as they march with intent and pride towards the release of their 3rd album, ‘Vitriol Inc’ that will undoubtedly be their most daring release yet.
Frontman Jessy Switchblade shares that “Our previous guitarist Raven Chaos gave us ‘Monuments’ as a parting gift before he left the band. He always wanted to write something faster and less melodic. He gave us the shell of the song and we transformed it into what you hear today. I wrote a poem several years ago called ‘Monuments’ that I made fit over the riff. I wanted to give it the Thrash Metal treatment, so I sang directly over the riff, as opposed to coming up with a vocal melody.”
Jessy Switchblade further adds that “The song itself is inspired by the fall of communism, as well as the political-themed poem ‘Ozymandias’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley. Ultimately great liberators end up being the people that cause our and their demise. All great empires eventually fall due to greed. I suppose we are basically seeing something similar in our own country South Africa right now, although we never used our current state of affairs as inspiration behind this track. I remember being a pre-teen when the Soviet Union collapsed and was divided into the Commonwealth of Independent States, seeing the massive statue of Stalin destroyed and the people celebrating the collapse of communism. It tied up so nicely with the poem by Shelley. That image never left my mind, and I’m glad I could use it a song all these years later. What I wanted to say with this song is really that the more things chance, the more they stay the same.”
We are metal! We are fire! We are legacy! We are energy! We are power! We are Deadline!
From choosing a band name taken from a Testament song, to wearing their beautifully crafted battle jackets emblazoned with the names of their favourite heavy metal bands, the quintet is hellbent on bringing the nostalgia, exuberance, and blood thirsty passion of the 80’s without necessarily pigeonholing themselves in one sole genre.
Formed in Pretoria, South Africa in 2014, Deadline played their first show at a friend’s house party on 7 March 2015 and have not looked back since. 2 albums and an EP later, they have become the fore runners of the Old School Heavy Metal sound in South Africa which they have dubbed the “New Wave of South African Heavy Metal”. With 6 South African Metal Music Awards to their name, a dedicated fanbase who dub themselves the “Deadline Heavy Metal Crew” and an energetic, passionate live show second only to their heroes Iron Maiden, they march with intent and pride towards the release of their 3rd album, “Vitriol Inc” that will undoubtedly be their most daring release yet.
Led by the effervescent, high flying Frontman Jessy Switchblade, Deadline have undergone a few core changes during the pandemic, but have now solidified their line up around guitarists Judge Mental and The Skullprit (the last original member along with Jessy), bassist Damian Dread and percussionist and back up vocalist Wrighteous Mike. The quintet is hellbent on bringing the nostalgia, exuberance, and blood thirsty passion of the 80’s without necessarily pigeonholing themselves in one sole genre. Their music transcends genres, it transcends generations, it’s an ode to the decade that changed us forever. Sit down in your Lamborghini Countach, strap your seat belt, and let their crashing drums, pulsating bass rhythms, bright neon guitar riffs and screeching vocals take you back to your glorious metallic past! “Vitriol Inc” will be out in May 2023!’
