Way of the Dub Album Review

The Knights of the Dub Table attempt to live up to their name with their debut full length and for the most part they succeed.  They’re not quite at the head of that table yet, but they come close.

They’re clearly a well-rehearsed band, utilising live instrumentation to produce their summery sounds.  It’s a sound that draws on reggae influences but retains a distinctly New Zealand feel, although perhaps draws too heavily on Salmonella Dub’s better known works, Killervision in particular.

Fans of that style of dub/reggae will no doubt delight in this, adding it to their soundtrack for summer.  Those who are looking for something unique in their music may want to stay clear, as there’s little new on offer within these 10 tracks.  Each blends into the next, all following the same formula, without ever really exploring the genre or pushing any musical boundaries.

That’s not a fault of the band – experimentation hasn’t been a big part of the reggae scene within New Zealand, most artists preferring to ape the more commercial sounds of the popular groups in the genre, rather than forge their own identity.  That doesn’t tend to be a barrier to success here, and Knights of The Dub Table probably won’t find that it holds them back any. 

Still, it would have been nice to see them have some fun with the music, mix it up a bit and see what comes out.  Maybe with future releases they’ll feel freer to do that.