I can't claim that I have known about the US venerable veterans Deceased forever. In fact, the first time I probably heard about them was when I caught a piece, or an editorial, or some sort of other writing by their lead man King Fowley on the pages of Metal Maniacs magazine a decade or so ago. The band was well established and not so prolific at the time. Since many bands listed them as influence, I did check a few albums to trace their career and did find a lot of earlier stuff quite raw thinly produced death metal. Whether anybody at Hells Headbangers agreed with my opinion (since I doubt those dudes were as unaware of Deceased as me), but the reissue of Supernatural Addiction is an absolutely correct decision, since that album represents the transformation of Deceased and them entering into a new era with ideas more developed, even if the sound was not significantly refined.

It is rare that an album could amalgamate so many distinct influences so seamlessly, but with Supernatural Addiction Deceased have done precisely that. And it is probably because of this fact that album is so worthy of a praise and will be so difficult to duplicate. By Deceased themselves or many others. Supernatural Addiction combined proto-death metal of the earlier albums with energetic thrash and super catchy NWOBHM melodies. And it allowed King Fowley to continue channelling his inner Lemmy, voicing out pretty thoughtful mystical lyrics, not just Halloween or B-side cheap horror movies screenshot descriptions. Supernatural Addiction is Possessed, Merciful Fate/King Diamond and Motorhead combined, if you can imagine that. That combo also had speed and raucousness injected when needed (Dark Chilling Heartbeat). At the same time it had musicianship showing up in the form of nimble Priest and Maiden melodies or demonstrated well developed lengthy leads (The Doll with the Hideous Spirit, Chambers of the Waiting Blind). The more straightforward tracks, like Elly's Dementia, seem to be almost pedestrian next to evolving ever-changing Dark Chilling Heartbeat, A Very Familiar Stranger, Frozen Screams or The Doll with the Hideous Spirit. There is only one step from blast and heaviness to dominating melodies in Dark Chilling Heartbeat, or from acoustic strum to crazy thrash in The Doll with the Hideous Spirit. These songs (like Frozen Screams) manage to stay both epic and menacing, interesting to listen to because you won't know what will happen next. They do not throw violence and viciousness in your face non-stop, but instead provide a sense of cuckoo psychedelia making Merciful Fate comparison all the more valid. Slower unfolding Chambers of the Waiting Blind gives off a hint of doom, but the drum rolls ultimately usher in faster music, something Deceased is supernaturally addicted to.

To all this, rather varied, palette King Fowley is not afraid to actually sing, not making any attempts to hide the crackles or scratchiness of his voice. A lyrics booklet is still needed to make out the words, but one will be ultimately rewarded to trace it down to delve into the concepts presented.

The reissue also features five songs from the album demo style. Not sure that these in and of themselves will provide for an enticing value, but the album itself is a milestone enough not be missed.