Published on Feb 4, 2001
So the question comes up one morning: What would Motorhead’s
Lemmy Kilmister sound like if he fronted a thrash/death metal
outfit?
Okay, so that might not be normal conversation in your household
over Post Toasties… and even in my household, I found myself
talking to the dog about this. (My wife barely tolerates most of
the music I listen to anyway… maybe next Christmas she’ll buy me
a set of wireless headphones.) “So, Piper, how do you think it
would sound?” I asked.
“Ruff,” she said… and proceeded to leave a present for me on
our new carpeting. I then quoted
Hamlet: “OUT, DAMN SPOT! OUT, I SAY!!!”
We have since gotten rid of the dog – not because she couldn’t
control her bowels, but because she obviously doesn’t know shit
about music. (No, no, wait… did I say that?) Maybe if I had
played
Let The Violence Begin, the debut effort from Dreams Of
Damnation, it would have helped. This trio doesn’t provide a lot of
material to base an opinion on – the six songs clock in around 27
minutes – but it’s enough to make me realize I want to hear more
from them.
Comparing bassist/vocalist Charlie Silva to Kilmister isn’t
totally fair, to be honest. Silva’s approach to the bass guitar is
different (though enjoyable), and his vocals aren’t nearly as
battle-scarred. But there is a resemblence in the vocal style that
keeps making me think of Kilmister – and I do mean that as a high
compliment. Guitarist Jim Durkin (best known for his work in Dark
Angel) and drummer Al “Mayhem” Mendez round out what promises to be
a band to watch in the future.
Not that the music they’re making in the present is bad. Songs
like “Blood To Free A Soul,” “Cremation Day” and “Demonic
Celebration” all invoke the ghosts of bands past to draw upon their
intense energy. But what makes Dreams Of Damnation stand apart is
that they don’t lift any of the musical tricks from these bands,
choosing instead to pave their own trail towards their goal. Have
you heard the phrase “everything old is new again”? Dreams Of
Damnation are proof of this.
Yet I wish they had put together more than an EP worth of
material to get the blood flowing. Oh, these six songs are all
satisfying, but they do leave the listener wanting to hear more.
Maybe it’s better to hold off on some of your musical punches and
allow the other person to regain their strength before you go in
for the kill. Let’s hope this is the strategy of Dreams Of
Damnation.
Let The Violence Begin is a powerful and enjoyable first
effort from these music scene veterans, and promises to be just the
opening salvo of an intense musical bombardment.