So i have had the pre-release version of this album for quite some time now and have given it a few listens. The official version of this debut LP was just posted in the Parts Unknown webstore just about a week ago and so i figured now is a good time for a review. Dry-rot has always reminded me of No Trend and thats about the only comparison i like. They have been doing their thing for a few years now and has released four 7 inchers: "Permissions", "Subordinate","This is a forest" and a single on Home Invasion. Each of these records is very unique and shows a different side of Dry-Rot, from the thrash(dare i say "crust"?) style of ripping through a list of songs to the light jazz on "This is a Forest" and to the moody and light b-side on their first record. Point is this band is capable of creating various sounds and styles without completely abandoning hardcore and thats exactly what this Lp displays.
The Album starts out with two quick in your face jams that dont let up, then immediately goes into a real bouncy bass line that kind of catches you off guard, and thats when i knew that this album isnt going to be what i expected. I just figured they were gonna burn through a handfull of songs and then throw in one or two slow/experimental tracks. This whole thing is all over the grid and Dry-Rot makes it work. There are some parts were the longer more spacey songs drag a little bit, but the rest of the album makes up for it.
Its good when musicians can take what they learn, make progress and apply it to what they like as oppose to saying that they are above punk or hardcore and have to exclusively play jazz or techno or whatever they stick with it and make it their own.
Dry-rot will have a song on the next Cowabunga Records comp "Welcome To The Golden State" vol. 2. Their live shows are few and far between so dont miss out, i can say that they are very intense and very energetic live. You can find this "Philistine" in the Parts Unknown webstore.
www.partsunknownrecords.com
Noisy guitar, blown out bass, raw vocals, drums placed at the bottom of a well and thats what this single sounds like to me. Its one hell of an atmosphere. One mid tempo song and a slower one on the b-side. Slavescene is part of the Cult Ritual crew of bands that have been emerging lately and with this one its easy to tell and thats not a bad thing. These two songs deliver everything i wanted: noise without too much theatrics, solid riffs, and vocals that demand your attention as they howl in agony. I will say though I was expecting this to be a little more mind blowing, its not the bands fault. I blame the hype. Hate the game not the player.
