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The Gauntlet: Dead By Wednesday |
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Dead By Wednesday Album Review
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Tracklist
1. Resist
2. My Voice
3. Deprogram
4. Enemigo
5. ...Therefore Is He a Terrorist?
6. Democracy Is Dead
7. Kill Yourself
8. Yesterdays
9. Over the Edge
10. Revolutionary
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DEAD BY WEDNESDAY is a band of halves. Half the band originally lived in California. The other half of the band is from Connecticut. Half the band comes from a rap and hip hop background. The other half of the band comes from an 80s hardcore and thrash background. Half the band is related; the other half of the band is not. Even though there are these obvious divisions in the band, like the Yin Yang, the two opposite halves fuse together to form the perfect union.
DBW has a sound best categorized as rap core. The public might mistakenly lump DBW into nu-metal because of the exposure bands like LIMP BIZKIT and early INCUBUS gained with their commercialized rap metal sound, but that would be an error. Although DBW and rap-centric nu-metal bands both use rap elements in their vocals, DBW approaches these vocals in a jazzier way. The vocal dueling of David and Ceschi has been shaped by jazz scat lessons and growing up with West Coast rap. Their vocals have much in common with the ebb and flow rhythms of slam poets. This is definitely not a band one-time Howard Stern interviewer, Stuttering John could sing for.
Musically, this band is a throwback to the days when hardcore was really 'hardcore' and METALLICA was the most bad-ass thrash band on the planet. Listeners will not find the bouncy, mall rat rhythms of the nu-metal scene. Here you will notice beefy, metallic breakdowns in the tradition of BIOHAZARD and HATEBREED. Also, the pounding rhythm section of bassist, Mike Modeste and drummer Opus ferociously drives along to the type of beats crossover bands like DRI and S.O.D. perfected back in the 1980s. The two vocals push their affection for hardcore with pissed off hardcore screams.
DBW's politically-themed lyrics may just be the pat on the back needed for people who have been depressed with this country's political climate for the last five years. Joining a growing number of artists in this country, DBW makes it well-known that they are not going to idly stand by for George Bush's hawk-like and big business approach to running our country. Song titles like 'Deprogram,' 'Therefore, is he a terrorist,' and the title track prove they are frustrated with the direction of this country and want to be heard, which gives people who feel the same way a good reason to buy this album.
Even though some people may say this band is not exactly reinventing the wheel, DBW approaches their music in a way that is very refreshing. Music followers are sure to get an early Christmas present if they are willing to open their mind and give Democracy is Dead a try.
Review by: Darren Cowan
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