Album Review: Ashes to Ashes

Synchronicity, chemistry, friction, attitude, musical differences. All ingredients that make a great band.

I never read the bio or press release before listening to any music. I want to make my own mind up about the music, my feelings, and how it connects (or disconnects) with me.

On first listen to the brand new album Ashes to Ashes from Wellington-based Dreams Of The Damned, I am immediately struck by how in sync the musicians are (more on this later)

Opener Lobotomy kicks things off at pace. The double kicks hammer and then switch into a weighty groove that you would need to be dead from the neck up not to headbang to.

There is no waiting around here. This is a statement of intent, and I am immediately hooked. Then the vocals hit, and I must admit, initially, they take a little getting used to, especially the more spoken-word sections. The screamo parts work great, though, and what could have morphed into some kind of Metallica ass kissing exercise has now taken off in its own unique direction.

Let’s Face The Music and Fuck has more of an 80’s metal groove and an unexpected change in direction. It rocks along but doesn’t hook me in the same way as Lobotomy.

Then we head into Break, another change in direction and one of my favourite tracks here. The vocals now make sense and gel perfectly with the energy and anger delivered with a slice of menace.

What is now clear is that we are three tracks in, and I am intrigued, as pretty much every genre of metal and rock is starting to emerge and blend with each track.

Rainbow Factory doesn’t do it for me. The chorus, the metal-by-numbers riffing, even the lead riff fails to grab me. I almost hit the skip button halfway through but managed to stick it out until the album title track, Ashes to Ashes, kicked in. It is now apparent that this is a concept album. The songs tell a story, which, like most concept albums, explains the hit-and-miss vitality of each song.

Next up, the epic 7.15-minute Anxiety initially plods along but slowly builds layer by layer. I am still feeling a little disconnected. Then, around 4 minutes in, we have a shift in gear. That tight, pummeling kick and riff lift the energy and vibe as the song bows out on an instrumental high. It just could have come a couple of minutes sooner for my liking.

Notice Me (Confession) should be on a different album. It would sit nicely alongside anything written by Bon Jovi and that ilk.

Now my head is fucked.

Where is this going?

I need a break – headphones off, quick beer and back into it.

Fuck me! Notice Me (Rejection) is like a punch in the face. Whatever was happening in this guy’s head five minutes ago has switched. The lyrics are delivered with pure venom, and then out of nowhere, Bon Fucking Jovi appears again (metaphorically speaking) just for thirty seconds, until he is put back in his box, and we move back to kicking ass.

The interlude Sweet Facade grates. I’m sorry, but luckily, it is only 50 seconds long.

Guilty and Suicide Note round things off on a high note.

There is a lot to unpackage on Ashes to Ashes, and I am blown away once more when I discover that Dreams of the Damned is just one person, Zed Ramsay. Jeez, this album is a body of work, and the multi-talented Zed needs to be congratulated on putting this and all his inner demons, thoughts, and musical influences into 11 songs that take the listener on a twisted journey full of unexpected turns, sometimes exciting and sometimes a little bit WTF. Ashes to Ashes is unlike any other release this year, but it’s not all killer.

There is enough here to keep any metalhead happy and even challenged, which is always good.

Check it out and expect the unexpected.