Reviewed by Alex Figgis

Tired with the all too familiar pop punk genre? Looking for something to get your 'fangs' into? Then search no more. The Deadlines are the first gothic pop punk rock band that I have had the pleasure of coming across. Far from morbid, The Deadlines never take themselves seriously enough to become pretentious. After all, with such stage names as Shavin Coffin (vocals/guitar), The Creature (organ) and Thomas Demise (bass), one would expect anything but pretension! Instead, presenting spiritual truth in such a shocking musical context enables the band to explore serious issues in a uniquely compelling way, adding extra punch to the message proclaimed. Shaun's acute sense of wit and humour captivates the listener's imagination, compelling all who venture a spin of 'The Death And Life Of...' to journey with The Deadlines into their bizarre realm of shockingly vivid musical soundscapes. Produced, recorded and mixed by Matt Bayles (Botch, Pearl Jam), 'The Death And Life Of...' stands as a shockingly good debut worthy of investigating if you dare!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.