Date Released: October 21st 2022. Record Label: Nomad Eel Records/MDD Records. Formats: Cassette/CD/DD
Dread The Dawn: Tracklisting
1.Abandon Paradise
2.As I Begin To Turn
3.Back From The Dead
4.Genesis
5.Royal Blooded
6.Pariah to Messiah
7.Dread the Dawn
8.How the West Was Won
9.Doomsday
10.Bad Man Down
Members
Jason McMaster - vocals
Jimmy Schulman - bass
Ron Lipnicki - drums
Dan Lorenzo - Guitars
Review
Doom/Stoner Metallers Cassius King return with their second full length album Dread The Dawn. A more straightforward affair compared to their debut release Field Trip. All the things that made Field Trip such a great album is here again with Cassius King lovingly showing affection to the 1980’s Hard Rock/Heavy Metal scene but with a Doom/Stoner Metal flavour.
Guitar solos and bombastic vocals abound on the superb opening song Abandon Paradise. A song that matches the technical flair of 80’s Hard Rock and Heavy Metal with the gloomy substance of modern day Doom/Stoner Metal. The vocals and lyrics are slightly theatrical but this works to the band’s advantage. Nothing progressive here but good old fashioned Hard Rock with a slightly demented Doom Metal edge.
Second song As I Begin To Turn up the ante with Cassius King playing heavier grooves with lots of manic shredding energy. Jason’s vocals move through the finer points of Classic Hard Rock and Heavy Metal with traces of the legendary vocalists of the era. The music has a slight STONER vibe that allows the band to move with the times and play many finely tuned melodic grooves and wicked extended jams.
Third song Back From The Dead offers a less is more approach but still being undeniably heavy with some cool funky bass lines and Cassius King going full on Blue Oyster Cult in certain parts of the song. The vocals are more Blues based but there’s some fantastic dual vocals on this song that may seem out of place but the highly infectious music joins everything brilliantly together. This is one of the standout tracks on the album.
Cassius King continues playing this winning style of music that even draws influences from the 70’s Hard Rock scene but still operating within the creative realm of Doom/Stoner Metal.
Other standout tracks on the album are: Genesis, Royal Blooded, Dread The Dawn, Doomsday and Bad Man Down. These tracks are perhaps where Cassius King has the most devilish and creative fun on the album and it shows with the high amount of fantastic grooves and riffs contained on the album. The band even play different styles of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal which will surprise the folks who will listen to this album.
Dread The Dawn may not be the most groundbreaking album you’ll hear but it’s gloriously and brilliantly entertaining backed up by superb production values. Cassius King have outdone themselves with this album.
This album should have no problem reaching a wider audience not only within the Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene but also the Hard Rock/Heavy Metal community.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Davide at The Metallist PR for the promo.
Dread The Dawn will be available to buy on CD/DD/Cassette via Nomad Eel Records and MDD Records from October 21st 2022.
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