[rating=2.50]
The cover art of Dub Trio’s Another Sound is Dying —three zombie-like, eerily red, digitally altered kittens scratching and dripping blood over a stark white background—may be enough to deter potential listeners. If not, those who aren’t already fans of the band may turn away after a listen or two.
Like their first two albums, Exploring the Dangers of (2004) and New Heavy (2006), Another Sound is Dying works well outside the parameters of traditional dub. In fact, Dub Trio should be considered a hardcore band, with most of the songs structured around a driving beat and distorted, crunching guitars. The blistering riff on the opener “Not for Nothing” signals the band’s speaker-destroying intent, as drummer Joe Tomino—who has worked with Helmet, an influence evident here—kicks a low-end assault over the blistering guitar line.
Eventually, however, the song falls into an slower, listless section punctuated by lazy dub echoes and little else, a problem that plagues the entire album, even the initially white-hot “Felicitación,” probably the best track. The only “conventional” dub song, “Mortar Dub,” is disappointingly reserved, but metal fans may find something to like in the thrashy “No Flag,” the first Dub Trio song with vocals.
Another Sound is Dying offers some interesting layering effects, but despite the band’s obvious chops, it’s an album that may have a difficult time finding an audience. Dub fans will be turned off immediately, and hardcore fans probably won’t tolerate the extended airy sections.
