For good reason, the title to Every Time I Die’s newest album seems fitting. You have to have the appropriate amount of grit and grime to back up a release called The Big Dirty (Ferret Music) and from the 36 minutes of metallic bombardment, the Buffalo, NY quartet truly does deliver.
Now before I give ETID their high regards, I will say I wasn’t a big fan prior to this. It did take me a few listens to really be able to appreciate the album overall. It’s a sullied composition more geared towards the punk-tinged metal enthusiasts than say anything Cradle of Filth is doing nowadays.
“No Son of Mine” immediately jumps into the lunacy as vocalist Keith Buckley goes into a frantic barrage of guttural angst. Guitarists Andy Williams and Jordan Buckley provide some extra punch and bring out the grime to give the song more dynamics. While sounding simple in his delivery, drummer Mike Novak instills the needed breakdowns and steady tempos that keep the songs in line.
With a cowbell doing the intro honors, their first single “We’rewolf” goes into a lashing spastic attack that sounds like Black Sabbath and Refused in a back alley street fight. With a million terms for the many genres out there, I can only describe it as being hardcore metal n’roll. Buckley again brings his words of pseudo-wisdom to life to keep up the driving guitars, shouting out you don’t live til’ your ready to die with plenty of swagger.
As the record progresses into cuts such as “Cities and Years” and “A Gentleman’s Sport”, the songs seems to take a more focused and potent approach. “Rendez-Voodoo” definitely has alot of the sonic catch-and-grab-you riffs that are easily memorable while “INRIhab” gives off a Motley Crue-esque feel on the intro. It then goes into a hook-laden salvo as Buckley embraces more melody but not without the fervor of a backslidden preacher, delivering a sermon full of satire and grit.
Overall: This record brings out the spirit of the Sunset Strip to the Hot Topic crowds. An album well suited for a night of debauchery, The Big Dirty is a sonically pleasant collage of filth with its own penicillin shot. Fans of Queens of the Stone Age, Blood Brothers, and Refused should not be disappointed.
Article comments
1 - Greig Sparkes
why has no one commented on this!!
Everytime I Die are absolutey brilliant, Keiths lyrcis are the most clever and catchy in the music game. He used to be an english teacher the man knows what hes doing. Andy williams aka the bear with sensitive teeth because he is the nicest guy you could meet. They are the most qualified for the sytle of music the write and i think hands down the best at it.
I do hope you will be reviewing The New Junk Aesthetic when its out next month.