Collecting a variety of alternate tracks and demos from the
Only Theatre of Pain line-up,
Deathwish is a great peek into some of the band's roughest beginnings. The title track is fantastic, Agnew coming up with a
Black Sabbath death march riff performed with appropriate power and doom, while the rhythm section keeps things chugging.
Williams is actually fairly restrained as well, making this a fine number to introduce new listeners. "Dogs" adds spooked-out keyboards for appropriate atmosphere, and once again everything connects down the line, from singing to rhythm. "Desperate Hell" is the one remaining new number, completely with over-the-top introductory wails, while the other three are demo or alternate takes on
Only Theatre of Pain songs, often quite murky in comparison. "Romeo's Distress" here sounds more hollow than the more familiar run through, but still has all its catchy power intact, while "Spiritual Cramp" sounds downright monstrous thanks to Agnew's fantastic sludge-riff. ~ Ned Raggett