Dogwood has been around for years, debuting with Rescue records and are currently signed with Tooth and Nail records. This is their eighth full length to date.
If you have followed Dogwood's career like I have, you will know their last few full lengths have been mediocre and somewhat boring. Their live show continues to be great (although they do little touring) but their albums have been a disappointment. It might have something to do with the frantic pace their work has been released with album after album being pumped out, each containing well over a dozen songs. But with "Seismic," Dogwood has finally broken free from their funk and gone back to the drawing board.
After my first initial listen through I was blown away, not expecting much (based on their recent work) and I wasn't prepared in the least. Take everything you like about Dogwood, combine all of your favorite songs, double, and that's "Seismic." While their lyrics have always been great the music writing has been downhill since their early "Through Thick & Thin." But if like me you were almost ready to give up, don't. This is their finest work to date. Each song is individualized, creative and fresh. Each and every song on this album draws you in, something that I haven't been able to say since "Through Thick & Thin."
The basic Dogwood is still the same, but this time they have risen above their past song writing to reach the summit.
A-
Other coverage for this album
Art for the Ears 2003Reviewed by Marco PovervestEver since the departure of guitarist Sean O'Donnell (who wrote 90% of all music on the previous album Matt Aragon) I've been wondering about the future of this talented punk band. Seismic is proof that they're continuing and O'Donnell is back, this time as producer along with Sam Boukas. New on guitars is Daniel Montoya (formerly of Logos) and to my surprise Dogwood still sounds like Dogwood.…The Phantom Tollbooth 2003Reviewed by Josh McConnellAfter a couple years absence, Dogwood is back with the release of their latest album Seismic. If you are a fan of their previous work, then you'll no doubt dig their latest effort. Seismic is done fairly well both musically and lyrically from start to finish of its 33 minute run. But let's be honest, if you aren't a fan of hardcore music then none of this will apply to you because that's pretty…The Phantom Tollbooth 2003Reviewed by Matt ModrichTooth and Nail's hardest working punk band Dogwood is back with their fourth release on the label. Seismic features two new members and a dozen new songs. Dogwood evokes skate punk references such as Pennywise and NOFX. They play new school punk rock written in minor keys with scratchy vocals, lots of octave parts on the guitar and shotgun drums. Seismic has its ups and its downs. The first three…Similar sounding releases
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