DUST TO DUST „Sick”

I actually became aware of Dust To Dust from the Capcom video game (head to head fighting) Heavy Metal Geomatrix which used a handful of songs off D-T-D's self-titled debut as a soundtrack along with material from other artists from the Sanctuary/Metal-Is roster Halford, Megadeth, W.A.S.P., Entombed and a few others. Prior to the game I had a sampler CD containing a few tracks off Dust To Dust's debut, but I never really paid much attention to this group before the game. After that point I actually became a fan and I was looking forward to this release with some anticipation. Now on a new label, Psyclone Records distributed through The Music Cartel, Dust to Dust is still solid and in top form. And for the most part, they one of the few bands from the modern rock/metal scene that I have shown care for.

About Sick, At first listen I wasn't sure if this release was as good as the debut. But I was only listening to it in the car while driving as background music, granted loud background music! But the more play it gets, the more enjoyment I find! The title-track is very hard, aggressive, and angst-ridden, but in a tasteful way. But there is still room for melody, something I was fond of on the debut with songs like 'If I Was God'. Here, Dust To Dust hit softer (in a hard rock sort of way, the song is short from a ballad and is filled with plenty of guitar licks and pounding drums) with 'High'. Fans of 'If I Was God' from the debut can find similarities between the two tracks in styles. Pretty much, the remainder of Sick is tremendously heavy, as the title would suggest. Definitely, If you liked the debut, check out Sick.

A little note about the configuration of D-T-D. Currently, they group only consists of founding members Rob Traynor (Vocals, Bass, Guitars and Keys) and Steve Tobin (Drums) – guitarist Stuart Berenson and Synth player James Craig have departed the Dust since the 2001 debut release. Luckily D-T-D managed to get some guest spots from Type O Negative’s Kenny Hickey to do the guitar leads on the songs 'Rot', 'Pusher', 'Cursed' and 'Supa Dupa Macho Man'. Stuart Berenson is still present for the leads on the title-track, while Traynor handles the leads for the remaining songs. The lost members are not really missed, and D-T-D is planning a tour once they can find a replacement guitarist. If Dust To Dust hit Utah on the road, once they find a new guitarist, it's actually a show I would like to hit!

http://www.dusttodustmusic.com/

note: 7.5 of 10

Tracklist

Rot
Sick
Think About I
High
Barley Breathing
Fix On
This Way
Pusher
Shame
Cursed
Supa Dupa Macho Man
Blue Sky Lie