Dread the Forsaken Unbound
by Derric Miller
Staff Writer
“Give me wounds that will make me stronger” is just one of the introspective and visceral lyrics you’ll hear on Dread the Forsaken’s debut release, Unbound. This multi-cultural band consists of American vocalist Gordon Tittsworth (Images of Eden), El Salvadorean guitarist Mauricio Liborio, along with drummer Vinnie Perez and bassist Mako. Tittsworth comes from a more Progressive Metal background while Liborio is a shredder in almost a polished Thrash Metal vein, and bringing these different cultures and genres together makes for one of the most interesting bands (and band names) you’ll hear in 2010.
Those aforementioned lyrics greet you on the first track, “Give Me Wounds.” Beautiful keys at the onset make you believe, perchance, this is a Progressive band, but then Liborio’s frantic riffs turn it into something entirely different. Mako is a madman on the bass — it’s not often you hear the bottom end drive a song so fiercely. If you had to make any sort of comparison, it’d be Anthrax, if John Bush had Joey Belladonna’s range. If you are a fan of Images of Eden, you’ve never heard Tittsworth bring the heat in this manner, always melodic but more sinister and gravelly than his other recordings. As the song ends, it’ll definitely bring up Bay Area Thrash memories on the closing riffs.
“Darkest Days” is up next, and it’s the quirkiest track on Unbound. Liborio accompanies Tittsworth’s vocals nearly note for note on the verses, almost like two-part harmony but with a guitar and a voice instead of two singers. The chorus, though, is anthemic and the most memorable on the album. If you are a drinking man, then you will embrace the lyrics, “I still have a thing to say: bring another bottle or change my ways!”
The variety on Unbound is palpable; it’s not like Dread the Forsaken has a formula in mind. So “Walk With Me” shouldn’t surprise you with its sing-song melodies and adulturous tale. Probably the best lyrical moment is when the band names the frame, singing “Still amazed by the lack of talent; it took so long to write this line.” While that is funny, someone in the band must have had some practice in this arena, because the lyrics, “But I know you feel so filthy, I crossed this line and don’t feel guilty. But I know you just can´t take it, you turn around with the will to fake it,” almost have to come from experience. The huge “whoa-oh” shouts and chunky guitar playing will stick in your noggin, along with the sudden desire to stray.
The band decided to take the brave chance of penning a song after themselves. “Dread the Forsaken,” almost necessarily, is the most intricate song on Unbound, both vocally and especially musically. In fact, while Perez more than holds his own with the talent around him, on “Dread the Forsaken” he combines rabid power, smooth tempo changes and then bludgeoning double-bass passages that will leave your neck in shreds. The solo allows Liborio to fire off massive riffs and heated leads, and this time, you may be thinking of Jeff Waters when you hear exactly how fast, heavy yet precise Liborio plays.
“Dead Chances” starts with Tittsworth nearly rapping, but in a Biohazard, manly, street-cred sort of way. In fact, these vocals foray into near Death Metal at times, although never getting that harsh. Mako pummels you with more expert bass playing, and with the jumping vocals, sounding like the other gents in the band are joining Tittsworth on the song, you will think of Anthrax once again.
Surprisingly, the album’s closer is a keyboard-led instrumental. “Unbound” instantly mellows you out, especially considering how playful and manic “Dead Chances” was. It’s a flowing, mesmerizing composition, proving Dread the Forsaken can play anything, and play it well. If you recall the opening, then will just means the band understands the concept of “coming full circle.” By ending the album thusly, they’ve gone out of their way to create a real album you want to hear from the first to the last song every time, singles be damned.
One of the more difficult pursuits in Heavy Metal is making music that doesn’t get lost in the crowd, when thousands of bands are simultaneously attempting to do the same. Ninety-nine percent of those bands fail. But that one percent that stands out may just have a chance to re-energize the industry, and right now, that one percent is Dread the Forsaken’s Unbound.
Online: www.dread-rocks.com
Track listing:
1. Give Me Wounds
2. Darkest Days
3. Walk With Me
4. Playground
5. Wasted Youth
6. Dread the Forsaken
7. Roses Are Burning
8. Dead Chances
9. Unbound
Hardrock Haven rating: 8.4/10