DEAD END dead line NIGHTGALLERY009 / DEAD-2
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Artist = DEAD END
Title = dead line
Label = NIGHT GALLERY
Catalog# = NIGHTGALLERY009 / DEAD-2
Barcode = none
Release = JAPAN
Year = 198?
RPM = 33rpm
Disc Size = 12"
Number of Discs = 1
Mono/Stereo = stereo
8trk, black label, reissue
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Echoes from the Underground: DEAD END’s Landmark ‘DEAD LINE’ (NIGHT 009 / DEAD-002)
Once again, we turn our attention to the seminal debut album from one of Japan’s most revered and unique rock acts, DEAD END. This is “DEAD LINE,” released independently in 1986. The cover typically bears the Night Gallery catalog number NIGHT 009, while labels on later pressings might show DEAD-002 with black labels.
Issued on June 30, 1986, this 12-inch vinyl LP represents a pivotal moment in Japanese underground music. Emerging from the vibrant Kansai scene, DEAD END presented a sound on “DEAD LINE” that was startlingly original. While rooted in heavy metal’s power and technicality, the album was infused with a dark, gothic atmosphere, complex arrangements, and a poetic sensibility rarely heard in the genre at the time.
“DEAD LINE” served as the world’s introduction to the band’s core elements: captivating, almost ethereal vocals, incredibly inventive and often haunting guitar work, fluid and intricate bass lines, and powerful, nuanced drumming. Tracks like “Spider In The Brain,” “Frenzy,” “Sacrifice Of The Vision,” and “Perfume Of Violence” showcased their unique blend of dark energy and sophisticated musicianship right from the start.
Despite being an independent release on Night Gallery, “DEAD LINE” achieved significant success and critical acclaim, quickly establishing the band as a major force and paving the way for their subsequent major label career. Its influence on later generations of Japanese rock bands, particularly within the Visual Kei movement, cannot be overstated. NIGHT 009 / DEAD-002 remains a legendary and highly coveted release, capturing the potent, dark magic of DEAD END right at their inception. The variations in catalog numbers between the cover and labels on different pressings add an extra layer of interest for collectors.