Canadian rock band, Theory of a Deadman, throw the listener into the deep with “Drown”; a heavy and grungy track, released as their lead single, which sets the tone for the rest of their fifth studio album. It’s easy to detect the change that Theory of a Deadman are attempting to incorporate into their new album, with the slightest shifts in tone, style, and topics addressed through the lyrics. Although relationships still feature as a core topic throughout, the band have moved on to include thoughts weighing on their mind during the writing process: the state of the world today and how, through the desensitisation toward the violence we see on a daily basis, we as a society have become, so to speak, ‘savages’. However, despite this slight shift, their music still very much remains in the vein of mainstream rock: rhythmic, catchy and very radio friendly (after omitting the scattering of profanities, of course…).
There has never been any doubt of Tyler Connolly’s vocal capabilities and the variations in genre that appear throughout Savages act to reinforce his talent. The songs range from hard and heavy rock tunes that will make you envisage the snarl on his face, such as “Panic Room” and “In Ruins”, low-key country “Livin’ My Life Like a Country Song” and, the “one for the ladies”, piano ballad “The One”.
The title track, “Savages”, is most definitely the standout piece of the entire album. It’s hard, fast and features one of the greatest icons in rock: Alice Cooper. Cooper’s voice is instantly recognisable the second he beings his monologue; “We’re all humans, fighting human nature to stay alive”.
Theory of a Deadman have come a long way since they first formed in 2001. They have grown musically and have become well established within the music industry with their radio rock tunes, a style that I don’t see them moving far from in the future.
Theory of a Deadman – Savages
