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DAY OF THE DEAD - Killer Sounds From The Midnight Highway
It would be fantastic to see this band add a second guitarist (or organist, perhaps) as even the minimal overdubbing found on this debut album shows that someone needs to take up the essential rhythm duties in Day Of The Dead so that guitarist Ben Frichot is free to lay down a riff-o-rama.
The studio has allowed this band to really flourish as, like they did at their recent CD launch, Day Of The Dead cleverly used the extra space in the mix to fill their songs with neat little fills and instrument textures. Dom Mariani (who should really be in this band) has turned on some great production in this regard, as the filling never spoils the meal. The additions to the melody-driven songs are gentle and complementary, accenting the points in Ben Frichot's riffs that work well with accompaniment, but otherwise leaving them alone to soar on their own.
Of said melodies, many of main riffs on this album sound dangerously similar on first listen, but once you get a feel for this record you can fully appreciate just how subtle Frichot's riffs are. Rather than taking a pop stance with his hooks (a-la The Shadows), Frichot develops his songs gently, without beating his listener over the head with a new melody ever other riff. It's a style that 99 per cent of people suck at, as it requires as much skill as writing a killer hook, but this album shows that Day Of The Dead have it wired.
Initially in the band's life there was a distinctly odd feel to the drums / percussion that has now settled down nicely, with the drums on this album being every bit the feature as the guitar. Again, this is quite an anomaly in the world of traditional surf guitar; the best of which was recorded back when drums were a total afterthought in the mixer's mind.
But that's the point of this band – to update the genre, rather than recreate it. A lot of the clichés are still kept intact (tremolo guitar, while a cliché, is essential nonetheless) but this is not a traditionalist band. This is not nostalgia-driven.
What it is, is an evolutionary step forward in a genre that almost everyone on the planet loves, in spite of most of them not owning much of it. What Day Of The Dead have done here is fuck all compared to what they will go on to do, as this album – while fantastic – is as much the band learning their own rules as it is them breaking surf's 50-year-old rules.
Confidence levels have increased in the band by the gig, and although they are seasoned players themselves they are still a 'young' band. Now that they're proven to themselves that they can pretty much do whatever they please in the studio (and then live, at the launch) Day Of The Dead are so likely to take things to the next level that, as a fan, you can't wait to see what they do next.
Even at the beginning, this band is a great step forward for surf guitar, because they're not afraid of defying the traditionalists and doing their own thing.
- X-Press Magazine 2007
Discography
Debut self funded album release -
"KILLER SOUNDS FROM THE MIDNIGHT HIGHWAY" (2007)
This disk has had extensive play in Perth on local radio stations and 'Mr Wolf' has been played on JJJ on a number of occasions.
Album number 2:
"KILL OR BE KILLED"
Photos
Bio
“DAY OF THE DEAD”
BIO
Contact: BRENDAN GIAMBAZI
bmgbazi@hotmail.com
http://www.myspace.com/dayofthedeadband
Day Of The Dead started in Perth in late 2003 and have gone from strength to strength ever since they started to play live shows in late 2004. Day Of The Dead are a three piece instrumental surf rock outfit. The band have an interesting and unique sound based around quirky yet familiar blues and spaghetti western guitar melodies mixed in with rocking and often syncopated riffs and rhythms splashed with a dirty punk rock tinge coming from double bass and drums. Day Of The Dead have carved their niche with a blistering live show, and always dressing to impress. The tunes that the band has created could quite easily sit on a Quentin Tarantino sound track.
Brief History
The band formed in 2003 at the insistence of Nick Frichot who knew both Ben and Brendan and was convinced that the two head strong characters would come up with something good if they didn’t kill each other first. After a few jams with different drummers and guitarists Luke showed up to complete the trio that has now become a strong and cohesive unit. With their first three gigs the boy’s earned runner up in the National Campus Bands Competition of 2004. From here, initially with the help of Ben’s connections, having been a member of legendary Perth band Storytime and an outstanding graphic artist, the band started to rack up an impressive list of supports.
Playing on the same stage with bands such as Motley Crew, Motorhead, Shihad, The Living End, Gomez and at such concerts as Rock-it, Main Break and Blackjack the band has always set the bar high and a professional work ethic ensures that as they leave stage the audience are never disappointed.
It was not until 2006 that the band felt ready to record their debut album. With help from a Perth musical stalwart, Dom Mariani, the band put together a self funded album called Killer Sounds From The Midnight Highway, which was released on the 19th of January 2007.
Since the release of their debut album there have been a lot positive and exciting results including the signing of a 5 year publishing deal with Influx records, which is a UK company based in Los Angeles, substantial local radio play, the use of the bands music for radio and online advertising campaigns, the distribution of 600 copies of the debut to date, first tour to the Eastern states and the recording of their second album Kill Or Be Killed which was released to critical acclaim in july 2008.
It terms of the future, Day Of The Dead want to continue to create music that can be used in the ever expanding world of multi media and advertising while still developing their live show and promoting the act in its own right.
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