Villain Era

Song Review:  Villain by Deadlands

CONTIBUTING AUTHOR Amanda

If you are a fan of bands like Motionless in White or WageWar but also crave a strong female lead then Deadlands is the band for you. The Long Island based band first hit the scene in 2010 and with over 102,000 monthly Spotify listeners they have been shattering glass ceilings ever since. Singer Kasey Karlson has a boundless range- hit after hit she goes from singing ballads to a deep and intense growl, all while making it seem effortless. This seems to be a proven fact evidenced in their new single “Villain.”

The song starts with Karlson’s singing and quickly transitions into her scream backed by intense guitar riffs, which segue right back into singing, pulling the song together beautifully. The first verse gives us a taste of female rage with the lyric ”How could I let you in? I can never forget your transgressions. You won't let up till I'm in a coffin” and immediately pours into her harmonizing chorus that delivers a feminine softness with lyrics like “You're the villain. You're a serpent in disguise- 'Cause you're killing me; I can't see a glint of mercy in your eyes”.

Kasey is known to give her all when it comes to her music and performances- and that really shows in this track. The push and pull of fighting a toxic relationship, whether with another person or oneself is prevalent here, and listeners can feel it deep in their bones regardless of how they relate.