CD REVIEW: Dead City Ruins – Dead City Ruins

Shane | 1 May 2014 | Reply

CD REVIEW: Dead City Ruins – Dead City Ruins
Independent
April 2014
Reviewed by Shayne McGowan
10/10

Are they the next AC/DC? Are they the next Black Sabbath? Are they the next Motorhead? Or are they the next Guns ‘n’ Roses?

The answer to all of those questions is no, because although you can hear the influence of all of the bands mentioned above, and many more, this band is something far more important than simply being “the next…”

They are THE FIRST Dead City Ruins.

A few years ago, I wandered into the basement bar at The Espy in St Kilda with the intention of seeing 180 Proof and the now disbanded Sunset Riot. I didn’t really have any interest in seeing a band called Dead City Ruins that night, because I hadn’t heard them, let alone heard OF them. So why then can I still remember their set from that night years ago, but barely remember if I even seen the bands that I originally went to see?

Simply put, Dead City Ruins are special, and their latest album demonstrates that.

Opening their self-titled second full length album is the epic, near seven minute track Hapenzella. A southern rock inspired opening, gives way to a swaggering hard rock track that is as infectious as it is awesome and ambitious. Til Death is a slab of Sabbath worshipping riffery, with a vocal that Ozzy only wishes he could still pull off. D.I.B. is another lengthy track, weighing in at just over 6 minutes, and brings Killing Joke to mind for me. It’s all echoes and atmosphere on this track, and although it appears early on the album, it serves as an excellent centrepiece.

Hurt takes Dead City Ruins into Appetite for Destruction era Guns ‘n’ Roses territory, and they piss all over that territory and mark it as their own. It’s actually a fun sing along song, regardless of the subject matter (murder). Up next is Shot Through, a frantic two and a half minute song that perfectly welds the hard rock world to the punk rock world, and leaves you breathless in the process. It also features one of the best lead breaks of the album.

Blue Bastard is all about touring on no budget, and let’s face it, Dead City Ruins know more about this than anybody at the moment. There is a groove to this song that brings Motorhead to mind, and it works extremely well. This track also serves as another of Jake Whiffens best vocals on the album. Broken Bones is destined to become a highlight of the bands live set, while Dio is a heartfelt tribute to one of the greatest metal front men of our time. Musically the band has put everything they know into this song, and it is an absolute triumph.

Rounding out the epic 52 minute album is Bloody Tools, an almost ten minute epic, that is a melting pot for everything that preceded it. Managing to be both the heaviest track, and at times the gentlest track on the album, Bloody Tools is probably the best demonstration of how far this band has come since their first release.

I don’t think I could pick a favourite song off of Dead City Ruins if I tried, because honestly, my favourite song is whichever is playing at the time. The bands’ debut record Midnight Killer was a good introduction, but I feel that this album is their true beginning. What we’re hearing, is a very cohesive and tight group of talented musicians delivering very well written songs. Start to finish, it is probably the best album I have ever heard an unsigned band deliver.

https://www.facebook.com/deadcityruins

http://www.deadcityruins.com/