Vantage Point

Today, the Belgian band dEUS released their 5th studio album called Vantage Point. It has nothing to do with a movie, but looking at the marketing and buzz that’s been going on you’d think it is one.

Let’s take a look at what has been going on:

• The album, as should happen for every big one, was leaked on the internet more than a week in advance of the release.
• Days before the release, you could listen to the entire album on last.fm. The tracks feature some comments by band members.
• They gave a lot of interviews to newspapers and magazines, but all interviewers were forced to sign a contract stating no interview should be published before the 15th of April. This was broken by 2 newspapers (De Morgen and Le Soir) and caused a lot of extra attention.
• The band will be performing the album live from their new recording studio (which is also called Vantage Point) this sunday. You can watch and listen at StuBru.

A lot of people are arguing on how the marketing surrounding this album is being handled, but one thing can not be denied: it’s working. You can judge by the smile on the faces of band members when you see them at the King Kong bar in Antwerp.

Oh, and the album? Very good.