Keleton DMD - Body Double
(Makoto)
Keleton DMD are one of those bands from nowhere that have something to
prove. They make their point very well. This is a rock band, stripped
down and focused, going about their business in a determined, efficient
and pummeling manner. Eight songs, twenty-five minutes, no frills, no
filler, and as hard as they come. All tension, no relief.
The band is a three piece, with relentless rhythms, deep-end bass,
one-chord riffs, and vocals that make even the listener's throat
burn. The groove is primitive, so you don't bob your head so much as jerk
back and forth in seizure. They've taken Bastro's vibe, mixed it with
Drive Like Jehu's frenetic intensity, and ran it through Amphetamine
Reptile's entire roster circa 1993 (like Unsane without the severed heads,
or Helmet without the asshole jazz master pretension).
Body Double is filled with great moments. "Chuck Dezelha" uses a
lurching melody, three steps forward and one step back, that careens
warily atop the always-barreling-forward drums. It builds to a guitar
piece so frenzied that it sounds like sliding noise, temporarily opens up
to just drums and bass, then jumps tempo, brings back the jackhammer
riffs, and stops dead. It's brilliant! It is "The Darker the
Demon," however, where Keleton DMD achieves enlightenment. A straight 4/4
snare beat and simple bass line are played with such fervor that they
actually seem to be in a continual state of speeding up. The vocals
seemed to be delivered at the maximum hoarseness-inducing threshold. And
then the guitar kicks in. At that moment, the aggression has
reached a point of purity, when speed and exertion fall away, leaving only
density.
The songs and the record are short, which adds to the appeal. There is
only so much of this one can take, and each track (and the entire album)
ends before it has either worn out its welcome or overburdened the
listener. Personally, though, once the record is through, I like to take
a short breather, and then spin it one more time.
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