DEAD
SOUL TRIBE
 I’m
not really sure where to start describing this CD. May I start by simply saying
this? If you have a rock and roll hair on your ass, buy this CD as soon as
possible! This is probably
NOT touted by InsideOut as a “prog or progmetal” CD. I disagree. Yea, there are no
15-minute epics or even the six or seven minute epics. But it sure is metal and it
sure has those proggy elements that separate the wanna be’s from the Real McCoy..
Dead Soul Tribe is the real McCoy and if Devon Graces has his way about then DST
will define what ‘the real McCoy’ really is.
Devon Graves is the alter ego of Buddy
Lackey, the former singer of the metal band Psychotic Waltz. With the “name
change”, Devon has presented us, the listener, with a tapestry of musical reality
addressing both his musical and personal changes of the last decade.
As one who has not heard one note from
Psychotic Waltz, all I can say is I love DST tremendously. In fact, I like it so
much I have no real desire to explore PW. I really lost my belief in metal in the
early ‘90’s, and that of course is when PW was at its peak.
This CD could, in reality, be called a
Devon Graves solo release as it was written, designed, imagined, and produced all in
Devon’s world. He has added exceptional musicians to “fill in the sound” but
Devon’s fingerprint is all over this CD.
His guitar playing, which was never
used with SW is stellar. This is deeply emotional music and as Devon himself stated
in the promo material, “No need to read between the lines, the words are the words,
it’s about my life, loses, loves, needs”. Exactly the Captains type of music.
The opening track haunts back to the
SW early influences as NIN and Ministry are clearly some of Devon’s ‘influences”.
The opening track ‘Powertrip” grabbed me from the first note, and this CD never let
go until the final note. It’s been years since I played a CD in its entirety back
to back but I did with Dead Soul Tribe.
This CD has a feel of revelation,
redemption, and salvation all rolled into one excellent package. I’m listening to
this CD as I type, and I have to force myself to “type” rather than listen. To me,
that is the defining glory of any CD.
The recording is so far above average
that the curve has just changed. Top notch on every track. Clarity, depth, range,
wonderful frills… Gives me chills…
This is a metal CD. But there is so
much more. Flute? Works wonderfully on Empty…Yes, it’s heavy, it’s rock, and to
this reviewer is as much “prog” as almost anything else out there being called ‘prog’.
Rating: 9.3
Reviewer: Captain MDA
Review Date: 6/7/02
Visit the artist website
DEAD SOUL TRIBE
Honors:
Album of the Month for July 2002
Credits
Produced by Devon Graves
DISCOGRAPHY
Dead Soul Tribe
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