DITHERAMB ()

Reviewed by Steve Gilmore on (Tuesday, February 15, 2005) Rated 8.5 / 10
Category Rating
Track Structure 8
Interest 8
Melody 9
Performance 9
Lyrics 8
Enjoyment 8
Recording Quality 9
Commercial Appeal 9
Overall 8.5

AN MP3 Unsigned artist I hadn't heard anything about until I picked up on a forum conversation, Ditheramb is a 4 piece outfit from Brisbane in Australia - and we'd better not hold that against them eh?  The band consists of brothers (?) Steve Kinghorn (gtr/vocals) and Scott Kinghorn (gtr/backing vocals),
Glenn Townsend (drums) and Jack Greenhill (bass).  Formed in 2003, it appears they specialize in Metal - all of which you could have read on their various web pages if ya hadn't have been so lazy...

Best to have a pair of wellies for the intro though because - just like everyday life in the UK - it's chucking it down.  A rain spattered sample hangs about while the central guitar figure creeps up out of the darkness.  The Ghost of Bowie sings a few phrases then WHAMMO - goodbye ears!!  There again, I know this Metal of old and I know how to take precautions.  Just because I'm wearing an old WW2 tin helmet while reviewing this doesn't mean me ears are made of tin too.  A lot of my own history revolves around spectacularly heavy rock, so I have no trouble acknowledging just how good - and fresh - this track is.  Not to mention a blinding bit of actual songwriting.

I couldn't really make out all the lyrics and I feel my own listening pleasure was the poorer because of it.  Although the vocals are quite clear in the quieter - more rocky - sections, once the Strum and Drang really gets cooking the vocals suffer a bit.  Whichever way you look at it, Ditheramb are definitely Metal - often with a vengence - but there's a softer, more musical side to it too.  It's that juxtaposition of styles that really makes this happen for me.  A very tasty opening to an artist I would probably never have heard if I hadn't answered a forum thread. 

Mysterious ways, eh? ;)

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