Deep & Dreamless Sleep

Meliah Rage | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 12, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 10
• Label: Screaming Ferret
• ASIN: B000GIWGWG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,131 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT ALBUM, January 19, 2007

By 

J. Gibbish - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deep & Dreamless Sleep (Audio CD)

I too have been a fan for many years,over 20 and i loved the Munro stuff but the new stuff is just as good.I wish there was more songs on the cd but the music is still great and the new singer is great.This is what should be played on the radio instead of all the nu-metal crap.
Definately a top ten album of 2006.

5.0 out of 5 stars Raw passion and masterful songcraft, August 17, 2011

By 

Soaring Eagle (Ohio/PA border USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Deep & Dreamless Sleep (Audio CD)

I bought Meliah Rage's first cd KILL TO SURVIVE back in the day and that was the last I heard of them until '09 when I caught word they were still around. Lo and behold their newer material is great. This is definitely a band that has gotten better with age even while remaining in obscurity.

Meliah Rage's style is power/thrash akin to 80s Metallica, but with a more primal vibe, like Bathory. This cd is the second to feature vocalist Paul Souza, who's just as good if not better than original vocalist Mike Munro. Souza is similar to Munro but less Hetfield-ish.

Believe it or not, there's not one bad song on 2006's THE DEEP AND DREAMLESS SLEEP. There are only 8 cuts and they're all worthy. I'd rather have an 8-song cd with no filler than 12 or 15 songs with a bunch of mediocre tracks (e.g. AC/DC's BLACK ICE).

Another reviewer mentioned the "cheesy" lyrical content, pointing out that it's about as deep as pro wrestling, but that's a rash stab because there are themes deeper than friggin' pro wrestling, like "Curse" which addresses life itself being a curse, as well as "God and Man" and "The Deep and Dreamless Sleep." I think what the reviewer was referring to were the lyrics to such songs as "Permanently Damaged" and "Undefeated." The former deals with a man venting after a bad break-up. Venting is healthy for the soul and, besides, isn't metal often cathartic? Heck, even the Bible has numerous examples of catharsis (e.g. Job chapter 3 and many of the psalms). As for "Undefeated," it's basically a celebration of the victorious spirit with some trash-talk thrown in for good measure. Didn't David trash-talk Goliath before defeating him and cutting his head off and parading it around? In other words, these themes are simply part of the human experience -- they're REAL.

Another important point about the lyrics is that one must consider the bands entire discography and not just one album. THE DEEP AND DREAMLESS SLEEP is just one part of the band's long line of recording output, like one chapter in a book. For instance, their 2009 follow-up MASQUERADE (with Mike Munro) explores more overt spiritual themes.

That said, I do find some of the lyrics irritating with their almost defeatist, loser mentality, e.g. "Life stinks and I can't make it!" Boo hoo. Here's my advice: Laugh and the world laughs with you; cry and you cry alone.

The reviewer also called the music "disappointing" "trash" and I'm here to tell you that nothing could be further from the truth. Go to youtube and listen to "God and Man," "Twisted Wreck," "Curse" and "Last of the Wanted" and seriously tell me they're trash! The truth is that main-man Anthony Nichols and Meliah Rage are total professionals and master songcrafters. It's great putting on a metal cd and being able to distinguish the songs. Don't you hate it when you put on a cd and every song sounds the same? You hear the first song and you might as well say you've heard the whole cd! Not so with Meliah Rage. Each of their songs are distinguishable because their main focus is on writing/performing quality SONGS. Want a couple of examples of their greatness? Listen to the last couple minutes of "Twisted Wreck" and observe how it masterfully segues into a melodic 'acoustic' epilogue. It's original and inspired ideas like this that turn the head of the listener and makes one exclaim, "Wow, that was awesome." There are similar examples in the mid-sections of "God and Man" and "Take What You Want." But, really, the entire cd's great from beginning to end.

Sometimes the backing vocals are noticeably weak, like on the choruses of "Twisted Wreck" and the title cut, but that's a minor cavil. Besides, they sorta give the songs a sense of raw charm and passion.

How talented bands like Meliah Rage barely eke out an existence while others like Metallica make gazillions I'll never know. The good thing is that Meliah's lack of popularity and financial success has birthed a genuineness, hunger and drive that makes them actually BETTER than modern Metallica.

FINAL WORD: If you like 80s Metallica, Mercyful Fate (non-satanic), Viking era Bathory, Iced Earth and the artistic mastery of obscure bands like Agalloch, My Dying Bride and Mind Over Four then Meliah Rage's THE DEEP AND DREAMLESS SLEEP is a must. Don't miss out.

GRADE: A-

5.0 out of 5 stars Meliah Rage Kicks A#$, July 27, 2011

By 

railrocker - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Deep & Dreamless Sleep (Audio CD)

Meliah Rage plays music ahead of their time. They change beat in their songs much like Sabbath used to. Deep and Dreamless Sleep is by far their best album in my opinion but none of their work has been in the least disappointing. I highly recommend Meliah Rage for all serious rock fans.