Scapegoat may not appreciate this comparison, but
Dawn of a New Death makes a decent case for them as the contemporary metal scene's equivalent of the Boston hair metal outfit
Extreme. Yes, the "More Than Words" guys, but hear it out: before they became known mostly for an insipid power ballad,
Extreme's cred was based on the way they mixed the then-current standards of metal with straight pop, glam rock, and even an unexpected kick of dance-rock. Similarly,
Dawn of a New Death has plenty of catchy choruses and hooky guitar riffs, and a couple near-funky rhythm section parts. Unapologetic pop songs like "Possession" and nu metal grooves like "Jaded" sit comfortably nearby more standard metal like "Shut the Fuck Up." And, it must be said, the acoustic "Where Were You" is in fact a "More Than Words"-style power ballad. Break out the stonewashed denim and the bandanas, folks, because late-'80s metal is back. ~ Stewart Mason