Oakland based DEADFORM’s debut LP on Tankcrimes emerges as a critical fusion of punk and metal that comprises and compliments the previous projects of its three members; LAUDANUM, STORMCROW and DYSTOPIA…to name a few. Entrenched In Hell follows up their 2022 self-titled demo with emerging themes of war, cults, famine and mortality that evoke a more personal attachment to the subject matter. This LP is many things and a convergence of seemingly incompatible genres but has become greater than the sum of those parts. Those parts are heavy, chugging and drenched in distortion while still allowing the music to breathe, showcasing the decades of songwriting experience shared by the trio. Is it Crust? Is it Metal ? Is it Punk? Though difficult to neatly categorize, DEADFORM are undeniably Oakland to their core. Oakland has made a habit of defining and defying genre tropes since before the term “extreme music” was part of the lexicon. DEADFORM is no exception to that experience. Three established adepts of Oakland’s idiosyncratic musical history have used their combined, multi-decade immersion to create a sonic fusion of punk and metal that is uniquely distinctive while also being simultaneously familiar. The ashes of their former projects have merged with the toxic waters of the Bay to synthesize DEADFORM. For fans of the members previous work, UK Crust specifically Amebix and even Killing Joke. An amalgamation of everything you know, but not at all what you’re expecting.
