Dirtknap

Dirtknap digs deep
By Michael Ray

Formed in 2005 and still sporting its original members, Dirtknap crashed onto the local scene with a unique combination of talent and camaraderie.

Their recent self-titled release takes the brewed insanity of their lives and distills it into energetic musical madness. The result is an album guaranteed to get people’s attention, and it's already creating a buzz.

“It's a fine line between thank you and f* you / It's a crime that I can't even trust you / I've spent my life trying to make myself decent / You spent your life trying to break me to pieces.” These lyrics, taken from Dirtknap’s The Fine Line, resonate with and tap into emotions that many of us are afraid to touch. That kind of honesty is rare today and much appreciated by those who hear it.

Call it hardcore. Call it metal with a Southern twist. But whatever you call it, Dirtknap will deliver punch after punch of in-your-face music every time. Dizzying live shows, lyrics set on fire by a voice that floors you, and a band talented and focused enough to back it up help make this group stand out in a sea of uninspired wannabes.

One of the key differences is that there is an equal balance of singing and screaming. Unlike many bands that stage hour-long scream shows, this mixture helps hammer home the message and creates a more fluid sound.

Lead singer Andrew McCauley knows when to go for it and how to make it stick in your mind. Live shows are rife with fans chanting the words right back and releasing their aggression through it. This is what metal is supposed to be.

Unlike many local metal groups, this band actually has talent. Gary Olson’s drumming locks you in and keeps your head nodding to the beat. Dan Deluca tears it up on guitar better than most in the game. Jakob Nielsen rounds out the musical side of things with tight runs and steady slaps on the bass.

McCauley told the Post that they are currently shopping record labels and hope to soon be in negotiations for music placement in Hollywood horror movies. Their CD, currently available at shows or per e-mail request at www.myspace.com/dirtknapband, will be on the Exclusive Company’s shelves come November. The iTunes and CD Baby release is slated for next month. Make sure to check it out.
- The UWM Post