Vehemency
Now here’s something I don’t come across very often: post-apocalyptic sludgy doom with monumental distortion, packed into a compact whole that runs for less than 30 minutes. The eponymous debut of Dead Neon is a sweet little treat of innovative music that in all its simplicity makes a truly positive impression on yours truly, to the extent that I am actually reviewing a release of this kind - I usually just skip through the sludgy albums because I’m not really acquainted with the style.
Dead Neon sounds huge and rough as if the album was recorded live on one take: the transitions between songs are seamless, the same feedbacks usually connecting the neighbour tracks. After the introduction’s - "Advisory (Go to the Boneyard!)" - speech fades out, the massive guitar walls burst on ”Downwinder” and the mid-tempo rumble begins, drums and bass grooving steadily while Jarrett proclaims his evocative (and definitely worth reading) lyrics in sinister, maniacal voice.
Song-wise, Dead Neon retains the same style throughout: there’s not much difference between many of the tracks, but it doesn’t really matter as the basic principles are of high quality and the overall length isn’t prolonged. From the core, what basically is to be expected is heavy and evil sludge / doom riffage all the way until ”Ride the Light” which ends the story of Dead Neon in clean guitars and singing.
If you’re up for some lyrically adventurous yet musically ultimately repetive and simple sludge or doom, and a really dirty production isn’t a hindrance, Dead Neon is a worthwile record to look into - and it doesn’t necessarily cost even a cent as it’s offered as a free download besides the proper tape version. I’m useless naming any references here but if there’s more this kind of music somewhere, anyone can feel free to guide me.