Flashback CD Review #19 - Beautiful Creatures - Deuce

This review was originally posted on the Rock Is Life.com website in 2005.

Beautiful Creatures

Deuce

Spitfire Records - 2005

http://www.beautifulcreatures.net

What's The 4-1-1?

After a four year absence, Beautiful Creatures unleash their second studio album of rock and metal riffage galore!

Genre

Heavy Metal

The Good

The band may have been off the grid for the past four years, but they used that time to fashion one hceck of a hard driving album. The first single is "Anyone" which has a great hook and deserves some notice from radio stations. The purer slam it in your face metal tracks like "Save Me", "Empty" and "Brand New Day" are where the band really shines. The music is top notch through each song on the album and though I was never a fan of Joe LeSte's vocals previously, I though he really shined during the high flying metal songs. My favorite track was "Straight To Hell", that is metal fury personified. Mark Simpson had some crushing leads and the rest of the band slayed on this album.

The Bad

The album isn't perfect however. The vocals for "Thanks" are buried too low in the mix. "Superfly" is a decent song but I didn't care for the effects that are used on the vocals during hte main lyrical passages. The chorus is loud, proud and clear, but the effects in the other portions of the song irritate. The one that that bothered me the most was the closing ballad "I Won't Be The One". Sorry, I've said it in other reviews, I'm extremely picky when it comes to ballads and this one just ends Deuce on a rather sour note.

The Verdict

While the album isn't perfect, 7 out of 12 songs (not including a brief 44 second instrumental) are absolutely awesome. If you want an album of great metal songs not by a veteran metal act, this just might be an album you need to check ut. I know I was pretty exhilarated listening to Deuce.

Did You Know?

Singer Joe LeSte formerly fronted hard rockers Bang Tango and lead guitarist Mark Simpson played with thrashers Flotsam and Jetsam.

Rating: 3 out of 5