Often derided for their use of syrupy female vocals in the context of rather stock melodic metalcore, Germany's Deadlock appears to have totally figured things out with their fifth album, Bizarro World. Make no bones about it - the band is an acquired taste, especially when Sabine Weniger's poppy clean vocals are dropped in, yet Deadlock has managed to pull together at least a half-dozen memorable songs here, something that couldn't be said for their previous output, most notably 2008's inconsistent Manifesto. The bulk of the 11 songs here run a similar pattern, which is the use of Johannes Prem's gruff vocals for the verse, and Weniger's female vocals for the chorus. Obviously, this template has been beaten to death, although the Germans have some winners on their hands, especially opener "Virus Jones" and "Falling Skywards." Weniger is primary benefactor here, as her moments in the chorus are about as stickly-sweet and hummable as anything ever heard in melodic death metal. Her growth as a vocalist is even more evident on album highlight "State of Decay," which would be the obvious choice for a lead single, as it's just her on the entire song.