DOGPOUND - A NIGHT IN THE GUTTER
Lion Music - Out Now
A
Night In The Gutter is the second studio album from Swedish
rockers Dogpound. The bands debut 'The Hellbum' saw some
excellent song writing and this album returns with more of the
same yet better. The production on the album is top notch
allowing the super infectious vocal hooks to really sink into
your brain whilst the guitar work of Mikael ‘Micke’ Dahlqvist
powers each track along with taste and power.
Opener 'Captain Hook & Jesus' is a perfect example of what the
band is all about and its beyond me why these guys were not
asked to be on the recent UK Fireworks festival. The lyrics
from Henrik ‘Hea’ Andersson are quite unique and quirky yet
help further the bands own brand of melodic hard rock. Other
delights of the album include '5 Seconds Away', 'Not By
Choice', 'Loaded My Guns' and 'P.P.F' which all deliver the
bands trademark song writing and have enough musical delivery
and melodic hooks to keep you more than satisfied.
Dogpound have produced another strong effort that tops The
Hellbum, I suggest any reader of Virtuosity One that has yet
to sample the bands brand of rock do so ASAP by picking up
this album. Put in your car stereo and get ready for the
experience.
Rating - 84%
DOGPOUND - THE HELLBUM
Lion Music - Out Now
With
the band Dogpound, Lion Music have kind of branched out from
everything you associate with the label. Dogpound are what can
be best described as modern melodic hard rock done
Scandinavian style. This is by no means a bad thing as many
great bands have come out of Sweden over the last decade that
are anything but neo-classical. Such names as Damned Nation
and Skintrade spring to mind.
Anyway, what we have on "The Hellbum" is 11 very enjoyable
straight ahead rock tracks that are home to some excellent
melody and indeed solid musical frameworks. This album does
not require an appreciation of technical mastery to enjoy,
just throw it in your cd player and get ready to rock.
Scattered throughout we have a collection of great riffs, When
The World Comes Down has one of those killer moments, and the
bands delivery is full of energy and enthusiasm. The chorus is
pretty modern rock mainstream and I could see this band doing
big business in the US if given the right exposure and
airplay. Vocalist Hea (no surname) has a great slant to his
voice which reminds me a little of Daniel Johns of Silverchair.
The guitar work here is kicking and the solo is also cool.
Going Down In Flames sees some metal oomph thrown into the
album with a killer riff, the feel reminds me a little of
Faith No More. Again a very strong melodic chorus with strong
vocal harmonisation adds extra class. Way Up High sees the
tempo drop a little and has a very classy feel to it, the
chorus is killer again and begs for radio play. It reminds me
a little of Incubus and bands of their ilk.
The rest of the album is generally in this vein and every
track has it moments, the band have their own sound without
doubt and if marketed correctly Lion Music could have a very
popular band that is able to acquire more mainstream success
that its generally more specialist roster.
Hot Spots : End Of Our Days, When The World Come's Down, Going
Down In Flames.
Rating : 80%
