Singer Aaron Perrino of The Sheila Divine’s side project, until that amazing band disbanded. Now Dear Leader is the main band. Hear one song and you’re hooked.
Moments of suspense, subtlety, resolution, and – especially in “Exodus Damage”‘s drum treatment – superb sound handling. Where do all these elements go?
Full-time addition of keyboard player who plays lots of tasty Hammond, adding a more Southern rock feeling. The lyrics aren’t quite as inspired this go-round.
Lower East Side scum rock/noise rock of the early ’90s jammed through a metalized frame and heart-tugging murder melodies. What hardnut rock oughta be.
The lost record, Europe-only release in 2003. Fiend is helped by Curtis ex-TKO, who knows his shit. MUCH more blazing rock’n’roll than the street punk I recall.
Packing down mid-tempo arena stompers like the children of the Nuge/Aerosmith ’76 tour, the bad-ass Green River side of grunge, and snot-thick stonesisms.
Brings to the table eccentricity (gone since Hell Bent For Leather), dimension, a whole new persona to this band of many faces and misplaces over the years.
Timeless metal, with ageless melodies and divine human creativity that challenges the heavens. The Essential is for either a complete newbie or a completist.