Think for a moment if you will, about Knoxville, TN. and think about that city's music scene, seems like it'd be similar to Nashville to an outsider like me. Does the image of vibrantly colored plaid shirts, tight fitting Wrangler jeans, big belt buckles, boots and cowboy hats instantly pop into vision? Does with me too. So where does a band like Dwell get off being a guitar driven, heavy industrial band on a mission from God and being located in Knoxville TN anyway? I'm not sure either, but whatever the reasoning it's not important. What is important is that Dwell has released upon us an album that traverses emotions, and musical ground in their first album Prototypes.
I almost don't like to call this a 'Christian' band because with the strength of their lyrics that doesn't seem adequate, no this is a full on evangelical band. Passion and intensity is all interwoven and worked throughout this CD. Although the message these guys are delivering is certainly the crux of what they do, the music is never overlooked. This is quality heavy industrial like we've not seen since in a long long time.
The only song that seems out of place to me is the very first song on the CD called 'Shout.' Now if you've read any other reviews of Prototypes you'll find most reviewers going nuts over this song. Seems to me I dislike it for the exact reason all those other reviewers enjoyed it. That being it's the most radio-friendly and mainstream sounding song on the disc. Once you get beyond this song the rest of the album is just track after track of unstoppable rough-edged industrial music.
The band is made up of three members who are; Tony, Miah and Daniel. Playing keys & vocals, guitars & vocals and drums respectively. YES that's right a real drummer in this band for all those who are hung on hearing a machine you don't face that here. These guys just happen to have access to have equipment and run a recording studio themselves so the fact that the quality of this disc is extremely high is no surprise. After all they could take their time in the recording process to get everything right and it shows.
Anyone with an interest in industrial metal needs to look into this band as we are sure to be hearing a lot more from them in the future. For fans of Circle of Dust, Klank, NiN, and Ministry.
8/10
