Rock/Review Rosetta West - God Of The Dead

Rosetta West is a blues rock band from Illinois. Their music frequently includes elements of psychedelia and world folk music, and their lyrical themes often venture into mysticism and spirituality. Founder and songwriter Joseph Demagore handles vocals, guitars, and keyboards. Jason X plays bass and keyboards, and he has been a co-producer and sound engineer since the Labyrinth album. Joe and Jay both play percussion, along with drummer Nathan Q. Scratch, who refuses to be photographed.

"God Of The Dead" by Rosetta West is a vast, intense trip that defies categorization into a particular genre or atmosphere. Their latest album is bursting at the seams with wild experimentation and bold expression, in sharp contrast to their last release, which was smaller and more focused. Teeming with life, sadness, rebellion, and catharsis, it is more than just an album.

From frantic punk-funk hybrids to slow-burning elegies, from haunting acoustic ballads to blistering blues-rock rippers, "God Of The Dead" develops like a fever dream. However, in spite of its tendency to switch between genres, the album is remarkably coherent. Joseph Demagore, the group's founder, is mostly responsible for this, since his gritty voice, and emotive guitar work provide the project with unadulterated emotional coherence.

Demagore is supported by longstanding bassist Orpheus Jones, whose eerie, melodic lines serve as the foundation for the record's more ambient periods, and drummers Mike Weaver and Nathan Q. Scratch, whose alternating presence contributes dynamic shifts throughout. "Midnight" and "Boneyard Blues," two exceptional tracks that highlight the album's breadth and complexity, are given new life by special guests Louis Constant and Caden Cratch.

The "God Of The Dead" is fearless, untamed, and incredibly human. Those who persevere are rewarded with a cathartic, genre-defying experience, even though it may test their attention span. This is the most ambitious and unapologetic version of Rosetta West. A potential cult classic.