GLAE: Deception
Glae
Deception
(Broken Curfew Records)
Glae is a 1-man experimental deathcore project from North Carolina, headed up by
Zack Glaeser. Deathcore can be hit or miss for me, mainly because of the lack of
variety often found in the genre. I’ve heard entire compilations featuring dozens of
artists where very little difference could be noted from one artist to the next. This is
largely due to formulaic constructions in the songwriting: similar vocal styles (either
guttural death growls or higher-pitched shrieks, or more like a combination of the two),
overuse of breakdowns, and down-tuned guitars. None of these are bad things of
course, but any genre can become stagnant when not enough care is taken to account
for originality and individual style.
Herein lies the success of “Deception.” The album is full of lots of quirky surprises, odd
rhythms, and the like. And while there are breakdowns—plenty of them—they are used
tastefully, and often with atypical chord structures. The guitar tones are pretty original
as well, sounding really fat and layered. “Midnight Phases” is a great example of this.
“Infinite Devil Machine” begins with an almost grindcore-like pace (reminiscent of
Discordance Axis’s more melodic work, circa Inalienable Dreamless). Being a 1-man
band, I don’t know if Glaeser outsources any of the instrumentation, plays everything
himself, or utilizes drum machines. This track has a very slight electronic feel which
hints at the latter, but I’m not entirely sure.
It should be no surprise that lyrically, the album deals with a variety of deceptions we
face in our contemporary situation. The opening track, “She’s Dead” deals with the
plasticity of relationships in a world dominated by the internet, and the falseheads
created when we seek admiration from others. The song offers a bleak and graphic
solution to such deception:
Barrel pressing the occipital bone
This is your last sunset
Isn’t it beautiful
The way I blow off your one-dimensional head
No soul to leave
Product of machine
There’s no room for grief
When the fruits turn gray
It’s time for change
I had to read that one several times to get a grasp on what he’s talking about.
Elsewhere a more clear statement on hope is offered, via relationship with God, the
Holy Trinity. From “1-X-3”:
You’re all I’ve got
When the darkness begins to grow
I know I can’t do it on my own
I need you
Unshakeable
This lowness will not prosper over me
Beads of darkness rain from above
You are my umbrella in the downpour
Nothing can take you away from me
Beyond physical beyond material
Protection from deception
I am free
“A Better Place” is a very straight-forward evangelistic/praise song heavy on Scriptures:
Life doesn’t have to be so lonely
Love doesn’t have to be so terrifying
We don’t have to be so dissatisfied
We have the truth before us
May the Lord grant us compassion
For all who have fallen short
We are no different
Everyone deserves to know
All in all, this is a very good, and very interesting deathcore album. There are enough
quirks and surprises to keep it interesting, and enough heaviness and brutality for even
the most cynical of listeners.
4 out of 5
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