The Ultimate Hard Rock Survival Guide

Ingenious Greek rockers Godsleep recently threw everything they have at Lies to Survive, their infectious new album replete with snippets of every sound imaginable. By the time the listener thinks they have a track figured out, the song swiftly changes directions, throwing them down another rabbit hole rife with musical exploration. 

“Booster”, the opening track, unfurls with a slow, synthetic feel, almost as if it’s auditioning for a spot on the Stranger Things soundtrack. The vocals are intentional—the prose slowly walks its way into a cry of desperation, haunting the listener. About halfway through the song, the ‘80s electronica is replaced with a heavier, grittier sound that’s all drums, guitars and aggression. And it’s brilliant. 

As the album progresses, “Pots of Hell” continues with the band’s animated feel. The lyrics focus less on melody and more on candor, so quick, sharp and stirring they conjure vibes from Anthony Kiedis and Brody Dalle alike. Lies to Survive pulls no punches and attacks each track with an intention—a message—of eliciting a response from the listener. 

A sultry guitar riff opens Pandora’s Box, “Room 404” yet again delivering a feel unto itself. At this point in time, the album has swiftly shifted gears, delivering a sexy, seductive quality despite the slightly unsettling lyrics. 

Godsleep effortlessly tackles a wide arrange of emotions in Lies to Survive and, coupled with a distinct sound that embodies a host of genres, delivers time and time again, “Cracks” a testament to their musical prowess. The track immediately opens with vigorous guitar licks, the drums paired perfectly in quality and pace. When the guitar wanes, the drum beat rings clear and it’s infectious as hell. The vocals continue to retain a spoken word consistency but the melody is there, even if a well-timed guttural scream rips the song in two. This theme continues throughout the entire album, each track as poignant and spellbinding as the next. 

Lies to Survive fades to grey with “Last Song”, another synthesized opener complete with fabricated drum beats setting the listener up for yet another emotive experience. At nearly eight minutes, there’s no question whether or not this track plans to enrapture despite the absence of vocals for the majority of the song. “Last Song” ebbs and flows and gives the appearance of several tracks artfully rolled into one, each peak and valley a portent of what’s to come. When the vocals finally make an appearance, they’re brief, alluring and stirring. 

Albums that surprise are few and far between, especially those that refuse to conform to any one genre. Lies to Survive is, in a sense, its own guide to survival. It moves slowly, stealthfully at times—deliberately and aggressively at other intervals—refusing to quit, making this an album worth running to.