SLEAZER – Deadlights (2022)

Italian rockers SLEAZER is a particular band: while their name makes you think about the late 80s Sunset Strip, their musical style is different. Yeah, on their new album “Deadlights” there’s a couple of songs with a catchiness of glammy hard rock, but as whole these guys are inspired by American metal.
To the razor guitar riffs, at places very metallic, they add huge bass lines and gang choruses to create a menacing sound, and while ‘gang’ sometimes suppose cheesy, in fact turns the band sonics even heavier.
Indeed, SLEAZER’s offering is pretty original, something welcomed for the scene. “Deadlights” is a shattering assault from the get go, dynamic, punchy, heavy but melodic, and when your ears are accustomed to that delivery after some tracks, they surprise with a melodic hard rocker plenty of denim n’ leather.

Technically SLEAZER master their gear, especially the guitar couple, who leave the listener with the most remarkable moments in this release. Roberto Censi does a very good job to get noticed among the big guitars, proving to be a versatile vocalist.
Between all that, the crystalline and shimmering production still allows the stout and punchy rhythm section to shine. The bass sonorously resound and pummel at every turn like a horseshoe filled boxing glove – notably on the bridges – while the drummer’s energetic beats supply the necessary impetus and revved up momentum for the axmen to fully dig in to their dexterously accelerated chops and feral, long-winded and mind-blowing lead trade-offs.

Songs like the catchy title track ‘Deadlights’, the gang-monster ‘Speed Of Fright’, the ‘Black Witch’, and ‘Sky Turns Red’ with its NWOBHM influences will knock your socks off. Then midtempo glammy rocker ‘All My Words’ and later the pumping melodic hard rocker brings variation and an anthemic feel.

SLEAZER is very refreshing band, rockin’ as Hell and catchy / melodic like few. There’s crunchiness all over, power, street attitude but great musicianship and production.
Killer stuff.

01 – Sewer Maze
02 – Deadlights
03 – Speed Of Fright
04 – Sarnath
05 – All My Words Inside
06 – Of Storm And Steel
07 – Black Witch
08 – Horror At Red Hook
09 – Night Desire
10 – At The Edge Of Madness
11 – Sky Turns Red

Roberto Censi vocals
Clemente Cattalani guitar, backing vocals
Stefano Viola guitar, backing vocals
Diego Sbriscia bass
Giampaolo Conti drums
Andrea Vecchiotti backing vocals

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