‘Saline’ possesses an unsettling nature which creates its captivating allure. The first album from the unknown alt-rock/metal band Dead Hazards doesn’t aim to please all listeners. Listeners should expect this album to shake up their senses and create a lasting impact. The album’s thirteen tracks lack mainstream polish yet deliver complex and weighty musical ideas. The opener, “Rerouting”, lays out the rules. The song opens with dense distortion which blends with surreal background sounds resembling malfunctioning signals. But it works. “Who’s Invited” delivers punk music through sharp sneering vocals and precise drums that deliver powerful beats without unnecessary intensification.
“Remorse” slows things down. The track “Remorse” possesses an eerie sound that makes it seem as though there’s something hidden underneath the distortion attempting to communicate. The low end maintains a strong depth throughout the track. “Unpaid Tolls” delivers grungy vocals and a gritty groove approaching bluesy tones which metal’s darker aesthetic reshapes. “Took A Loan” contains an odd jazz-like undertone that remains understated and emotional. Then comes “Prime”, the lead single. “Prime” delivers the most straightforward track on the record with full-force impact. The chorus sticks with you. “Endless Delay” creates an ideal form of disorientation. The vocals sound like a distant warning as swirling effects build around them. The sound of “Mold” feels like a thick, confining space filled with spectral harmonies below its surface.
“Crippling Faith” stands out. Twisted violin effects combined with static and ambient sounds create an auditory experience similar to a damaged radio transmission. “Lazyeye” creates a classic rock feel together with heavily distorted violin lines which somehow create a successful blend. “Hauling Back” produces a sound similar to the slow and unyielding movement of chains dragging through the sand. “Tourist Trap” delivers temporary openness while maintaining its intense atmosphere. The album ends on “Excess” which plays out like a malfunctioning machine shutting down with its uneven, tense, and conclusive nature. ‘Saline’ isn’t for casual listening. It’s layered, weird, and brave. Dead Hazards combined their homemade sounds with strange frequencies and honest grit to create something worth sitting through.
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