The quartet known as Dig Hay Zoose came to the attention of alternative music fans two years ago, when their debut album, Strugglefish, was released by Brainstorm Artists International.
Hailing from Kansas City, Dave Anderson (guitar), Jimmi Florenz (Drums), Bil Brown (bass) and Phil (first name only-vocals) have drawn comparisons to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane's Addiction, and a host of other groups. With Strugglefish, they garnered a good amount of positive critical feedback.
Well, they are back with their second release entitled MagentaMantaLoveTree. (And no, I didn't forget where the space bar on the computer is.) Clocking in at over an hour, with no less than 21 tracks (although, some of them are only soundbites or brief clips), the album is a fairly ambitious project. Dig Hay Zoose has managed to incorporate a wide variety of styles in their music, without having a disjointed end result.
The inclusion of some jazz touches and some great vocal harmonizing has kept this project from sounding as discordant and grating as some of the newer bands can be. Generally, the music leans toward funk/metal, but frequently inserts strains of other styles, including punk and grunge.
Lyrically, the group deals with such topics as child abuse, racism, doubt, and personal relationships. In the liner notes, they credit such diverse individuals as Willy Wonka, Jim Morrison, William Burroughs, and King Solomon for inspiring some of the lyrics. This is not a light-weight record. On such cuts as "Doubt" and "Circle of Pain," the group is decidedly down-beat.
If you are up for a challenge, and want to experience some of the more original music being produced in the "Christian" industry today, check this release out. But, it's not something to be taken lightly.
Other coverage for this album
Heaven's Metal #43Reviewed by Doug Van PeltModern metal just ain't the same anymore. Somewhere down the line, all these musicians learned to play in syncopated sync, creating a very large crunch; plus they all learned to sing in swirling harmonies; then they play it all fast and change rhythms faster than a strobe light; and, most puzzling of all, they sing about strange things and give their songs titles like, "Bus Drivers on Crack" and…Salt #17Reviewed by RoadrunnerWow! What a rush! More ZZWOPP! than the average 2X4 across the forehead! Say ya can't get enough tasteful guitar crunch experimentation, grinding bass slappage, brilliant drumming, and vocals everywhere - even harmonies!? You like crescendos galore? Well, enter DHZ disc 2. Set this pretty little...'er, big & pounding, platter over that lazer beam & everyone in-house'll be hoppin'. There ain't a…
