a positive review for Five Deadly Venoms
‘Five Deadly Venoms’ combines kung fu and metal
By Aaron Burstein
Campus Correspondent
Published: Thursday, February 11, 2010
Updated: Wednesday, February 10, 2010

For all the people who ever wished that their love of kung fu movies and progressive metal could be combined into one product, the mask-wearing mystery warriors known as Shaolin Death Squad are here to save the day with their second full-length album entitled “Five Deadly Venoms.” With their latest release, Shaolin Death Squad provides yet another reason why they deserve to be at the forefront of their genre.

But groups like Shaolin Death Squad have become the odd men out in the progressive metal scene. If well-known progressive metal bands like Dream Theater and Pain of Salvation are equivalent to groups like Genesis and Rush, Shaolin Death Squad must be more like Univers Zero and Henry Cow. SDS is a band that chooses to get their hands dirty and they aren’t afraid to dive into the truly bizarre. Their style deviates from the expected and it makes for a unique and exciting listening experience.

Perhaps it is an overstatement to claim that Shaolin Death Squad defines the more extreme ends of progressive metal, but they definitely bridge the gap between the straightforward, symphonic prog metal and the wild avant-garde. They employ jaunty, atonal songwriting that reveals a strong influence from avant-prog and even math rock. But they still retain the structured elements of more traditional prog metal, and they pay their homage to classic progressive rock bands while still including a healthy dose of experimentation.

Contrast is the key to “Five Deadly Venoms’” success. Every song is a balance between tension and melody. Just when the songs seem to be getting too strange, the sound always reverts back to a clear and melodic hook, giving the listener something to hold on to. Musical accessibility is always kept in focus, but nothing is sacrificed in terms of unique songwriting.

Overall, “Five Deadly Venoms” showcases some of the best music that progressive metal has to offer. Every note is performed with all the elegance and precision of a Shaolin warrior. It’s a great album for fans and newcomers alike.