When the Deadbolt Breaks – In the Glow of the Vatican Fire
Release Date: 27th June 2025
Label: Argonauta Records
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Genre: Psychedelic Doom, Sludge.
FFO: Kongh, Yob, Sleep, Electric Wizard.
Review By: Paul Cairney
I was surprised to see that In the Glow of the Vatican Fires was actually not a debut album. Indeed, When the Deadbolt Breaks have now released album number 10, having formed in Connecticut in 2005. Having never heard the band previously, I was intrigued to listen to their, ‘genre-defying compositions and haunting atmosphere’.
Alas, what we have is a mixed bag. There are a few big riffs lobbed in with some searing vocals, more predominately the female vocals from Amber Leigh, occasionally coupled with their male counterparts. We have a doomy feel about the album, but it mixes standard doom with an imperceptible sludgy/experimental aura that often steps you way from the album.
The opening track takes too long to get going. It feels every bit of its 12 minutes 25 seconds, using the first couple of minutes of Amber singing a long single note coupled with a Tool-style ‘(-)Ions’ buzzing before vocals and a considered guitar perpetuate the boredom that has begun. The track does pick up, but never really gets going. A disappointing start to a long, hour plus album. The track is called, ‘The Scythe Will Come’, but it doesn’t come anywhere near.
What then happens with ‘Deus Vault’, the next track? The disgusting fuzz and angry vibe of the track totally sets it apart from the opener. It is short, it is spiky, and it ends. It is a brilliant listen.
This essentially is the issue with In the Glow of the Vatican Fire. The inconsistency is as frustrating as premature ejaculation. ‘Coffin Walls’ has a similar guitar tone, but the clean male vocals are generic – think a cross between Jason Segel’s Count Dracula puppet vocals from the movie ‘Forgetting Sara Marshall’ crossed with a poor imitation of Pete Steele and you get close. Perhaps ‘The Chaos of Water’ is a better example of the style Pete Steel/Dracula style vocals. The dirty, aggressive, shouty vocals are much more impressive and give an added Oomph to the track. Well, to the multiple tracks they feature on the album, especially in ‘The Chaos of Water’.
When the Deadbolt Breaks should have an intriguing album. The fact is, the experimental sounding nature of the album detracts from the good. It doesn’t flow, it has multiple flaws, and it sounds like a band just starting in their career, not 10 albums in. It is the sound of a band trying too hard to find a niche, to make themselves that little bit different. When the Deadbolt Breaks, just leave it and go do something else.
Disappointing just about covers it.
(2 / 5)
