Dead South Dealers – ‘Walk Through the Line’: Groove that'll drive you mad!

The record carries some very beautiful musical elements and is made up of tracks that will have you hitting repeat over and over!

Wait, what?! Who are these Dealers?

I'll admit it! With the new media we now have at our disposal and the ease with which a band can release its material, there are bands that slip right off the Bloodhound's radar! Luckily, that radar is highly adaptable and learns fast… In this particular case, I owe thanks to a very good friend who pointed me in the right direction.

The debut album of Dead South Dealers came out in 2017 through Sliptrick Records (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter). And right about here you're going to tell me: ‘Come on Tzimako… What are you telling us?! The record's pretty old.’. You're not wrong… But as I've mentioned before in similar cases, some albums have the ability to mature like good old wine, and end up never getting old at all!

Down South…

The band is influenced by heavy rock and metal. They formed in 2013, based in Athens, and from the start showed an innate ability to blend different musical styles and sounds into their compositions. In 2015 they came first in the ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition (among 30 bands), a fact that pushed them to start recording their first album. And so, 2 years and one single later (titled ‘Note to Self’), ‘Walk Through the Line’ came to be, and now we hold it in our hands.

The album, which was recorded at Soundflakes Studios (Facebook) in Athens, Greece. Production, recording and mixing were handled by John Mcris (4Bitten, Anorimoi, Dimlight) and mastering by Alan Douches (Motorhead, Clutch, Mastodon,) of West West Side Music Studios in New York, USA.

Excellent musical deals!

‘Walk Through the Line’ is a record that's very distinctive from a musical standpoint. Dead South Dealers show us through it a very interesting style. The record consists of 9 tracks, each built on something different as its foundation. Listening carefully to each track, you'll pick up on small details that give the sound a different color and, at the same time, change the direction of the track.

From the first listen you'll realize the songs have a strong emphasis on riffs. The backbone of the whole record is very dynamic musical ‘phrases’, coming either from the guitars, the bass, or the keys. These ‘phrases’ sometimes define the track and sometimes aim to transform it musically. What matters is that every instrument makes a very significant contribution to the final result. Granted, as a guitarist, the guitar parts are always the ones that stand out to me. Still, listening very carefully, one can make out the band's full musical range.

From the drums to the vocals

Rhythmically the tracks have plenty of shifts. No song on ‘Walk Through the Line’ starts and ends with the same rhythm. Of course the bass also plays a significant role here, adding a lot of weight with its shifting playing style. At times you hear it holding soft, sustained notes (like in the intro of ‘Walk the Line’) and at other times offers a punchier, more dynamic rhythm (like in ‘Wrong Cargo’). A particular highlight for the bass, in my opinion, is the rhythmic foundation found in the solo sections of the tracks ‘Note to Self’ and ‘D.S.D‘. In the first one, a rising line from the bass intensifies the solo's climax. In the second, it ‘holds down’ the whole track rhythmically since both guitars are busy with riffs.

Keys and guitars fill out the sound really well. But at no point do we feel the sound is overcrowded, since there's minimal overlap in the frequencies the instruments cover. On vocals, the big element is the grit in the voice. The frontman seems to have a wide range, moving from soft vocal lines all the way to more intense, ‘full-throttle’ vocals.

Editor's Choice: ‘Vinnie the Vet’

Truth be told, I had a really hard time picking my favorite track from ‘Walk Through the Line’. There are plenty of tracks that grabbed my attention. From the dynamic ‘Wrong Cargo’ and ‘D.S.D.’ all the way to the title track ‘Walk Through the Line’. In the end, I settled on ‘Vinnie the Vet’ since it was the first track I heard off the record. The song has a punchy style and really lovely riffs. Combined with the ‘danceable’ rhythms and the gripping vocals, it's the best reason to hit repeat… and forget to ever turn it off! Listen especially to the way it closes and the intensity it brings… From the killer guitar riff all the way to the pulses the vocals push out!

Dead South Dealers are made up of:

• Andre Boutos – vocals
• Vaggelis Tsimpinos – Guitar, Keyboards
• Vasilis Kypritidis – Drums
• Nikos Tsimpinos – Bass
• Giorgos Tsoufantaris – Lead guitar

In conclusion

The Dead South Dealers took a bold step and introduced themselves with an album that packs some excellent elements. The 'Walk Through the Line’ is a musical little gem. Its sounds are so different and yet so familiar at the same time that they'll make you fall in love with it. For me personally, this style of music and this particular tone is right up my alley!

As for the future, I know the band is in the process of recording their next album. I'm definitely looking forward to hearing what the Dealers have cooked up. I don't know if it'll be close to or if it'll stray from the 'Walk Through the Line', which has already been added to my personal list of favourites (something that doesn't happen often)! Until then, I'd really love to see if the vibe that comes through on the record is also there in their presence on stage… So, awaiting either the next album or some live appearance.