EDITOR'S NOTE: For a new regular blog feature called "Dead Beat," freelance blogger Cole Garner Hill will weigh in with updates on D-FW's hardcore music scenes. He'll introduce you to local acts that specialize in metal, punk, alt-rock and all the other hard stuff.
(Members of Maleveller: Brian Smith, Luke Harnden, Jeff Biehler, TJ Prendergast)
Quickly becoming one of Dallas metal's best acts (SEE: not trying to be Pantera), Maleveller has been teasing new tracks -- for a limited time only! -- on its MySpace page for the past few weeks.
After unleashing the stoner fantasy metal of "Astronomer's Fyre" before Thanksgiving, the group recently posted the dark vision quest "Ancient Heart."
The song's first breaths -- a mystical exhale of spooky, spiraling acoustic guitar layers -- betray the chug-chug-chugging death march to follow. But Maleveller revels in making abrupt, no-look turns. While most of the track is a valiantly charging, straightforward melody, the group clenches its fists and releases just enough; spotlighting sections of fret-wizardry and thundering tom rolls, without bogging down the rest of the song. But the doom reckoning finale is the biggest pay-off. A stuttering rhythm guitar summons the storm, and after the lead rings out a high-end solo, the two harmonize -- raining fire on all of creation.
No surprises here: more first-class punk gems from Denton's VIDEO. Made up of members from other area heavy-weights such as Silver Shampoo, Bad Sports, the Wax Museums, Wiccans, and High Tension Wires, this act keeps upping the ante with every new song. On two recently debuted cuts -- "The Husband" and "Make Me Bleed" -- the group pumps up the production values while sliding with ease between dark garage punk, guitar smashing rock n' roll and psychedelic influences.
Tuning guitars to early Gang of Four and cranking the bass volume high enough for the hearing-impaired, "The Husband" lashes out its brash riffs in a three-chord, three-minute vengeful anxiety attack. This ain't just another speed-addled noise experiment -- this track's a full-on rock 'n' roll freakout. From the song's first sneering licks to its final 40-seconds of caterwauling wah-wah pedal-induced paranoia, one thing's clear: no one's tying VIDEO down.
"Make Me Bleed" crashes the party from the start with its deranged skate-punk blasts. Snotty shouts of "Once you see/ I'll show you what's inside" punch through serrated distortion, accenting the track's seasick tempo shifts as the riff rages recklessly in bloodlust. The guitar's only intention: pound this melody into submission. This is the kind of no BS, history-spanning punk Dallas should be jealous of. Jay Reatard better watch his ass.
Stay tuned; we'll catch up with with Dallas gloom-rock heroes True Widow later in the week.
Comments (0)
Leave comment