What makes Deadlands by Madder Mortem notable?

Deadlands received critical acclaim for its innovative approach to progressive metal, earning praise from various publications for its complex structures and emotional depth. The album helped further establish Madder Mortem's presence in the metal community, influencing subsequent artists who sought to blend heaviness with melody and atmosphere. Released in 2002, Deadlands was Madder Mortem's third studio album, following their previous release, All Flesh is Grass. At this point in their career, they were refining their sound and solidifying their identity within the progressive metal scene, showcasing a blend of melodic metal and atmospheric elements that would become signature to their style.

How many songs are on Deadlands?

Deadlands has 10 tracks, running approximately 57 minutes.

Deadlands

Madder Mortem · 2002

57 min · 10 tracks · progressive metal

Madder Mortem's Deadlands intertwines haunting melodies with progressive metal intricacies, creating an atmospheric experience that defies genre boundaries.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Necropol Lit — This track exemplifies the band's ability to balance heavy riffs with ethereal vocals, capturing the essence of the album's dark yet melodic landscape.
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Distance Will Save Us — With its introspective lyrics and dynamic shifts, this song stands out as a poignant exploration of isolation and longing amidst powerful instrumentation.
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Deadlands — The title track encapsulates the overarching themes of decay and rebirth present throughout the album, showcasing both lyrical depth and intricate musicianship.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The album combines complex structures with varied vocal styles, creating a distinctive sound in progressive metal.

What we noticed

The album opens with a brief instrumental track that sets a dark, atmospheric tone before transitioning into heavier riffs.
Vocals alternate between melodic singing and harsher styles, often within the same song, enhancing the emotional intensity.
The final track is notably longer than the others, allowing for an expansive conclusion that revisits themes from earlier songs.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Enter 1:07
2 Necropol Lit 4:04
3 Omnivore 4:44
4 Rust Cleansing 7:20
5 Faceless 5:41
6 Distance Will Save Us 5:06
7 Silverspine 8:12
8 Jigsaw (The Pattern and the Puzzle) 4:53
9 Deadlands 6:05
10 Resonatine 9:57

What to play next

Listen next

Mercury

2006

Go back to

All Flesh Is Grass

2001

Full Madder Mortem discography Artists like Madder Mortem

progressive metal

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