DEAD MEADOW
Shivering King and Others (Matador Records)
Reviewed by Holly Day

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Every time I listen to this album, I keep thinking I've just heard an all-instrumental set of songs, even though there are quite definitely lyrics and vocals on this. It's probably because the distorted vocals are so far in the background of this jam-style, fuzz-loaded, guitar-heavy CD that they just don't register as vocals at all, the voice being just another muffled instrument in a collection of muffled instruments. It's kind of like what you'd expect to hear if the original Black Sabbath had decided to be more of a jam band, with lots of static-laden lead guitar effects and twiddling, ominous synth washes in the background, and a repetitious percussive beat and bass line pushing the songs along.

© 2004 - Holly Day