Exciting news from Dub Trio with the band set to release a new album, entitled IV, on October 25. It's been a while between releases for Dub Trio after touring extensively with Mike Patton in Peeping Tom and then as the backing band for Matisyahu.
Druumer Joe Tomino describes the album; “When listening to IV you can hear that ‘dub’, as a concept and less as a genre synonymous to reggae, is at the core of the music, and while listening you’ll hear every thing from metal to dubstep….there’s even a prepared piano track,” says Tomino.” As always, we aspire to create a visceral experience for the listener, and IV is no exception. Our intent is that you listen to this album from start to finish. While this record is heavy, in more ways than one, there are a lot of subtleties inherent in the music. IV is a snapshot of where and who we are at this moment in time,” Tomino explains. “There are a lot of twists and turns sonically, emotionally, and stylistically on this record. Play it loud!”
Watch the evolution of Dub Trio below and check out my review for their previous album Another Sound is Dying here:
Casting Out the Nines - Exploring the Dangers of (2004):
Brooklyn dub rockers Dub Trio, consisting of DP Holmes (guitar), StuBrooks (bass), and Joe Tomino (drums), have got progressively heavier in sound since their debut album in 2004. Their third studio album, Another Sound is Dying, comes out of the blocks sounding like it could be a heavy metal album, that is until we are reminded of the groups original dub origins.
The lead track Not For Nothing starts off with a heavy sludge metal feel to it before giving just a hint of their dub influences and then adding an atmospheric, post-metal layer to the mix. From there the band seamlessly shifts between hard, heavy rock sounds and relaxed reggae/dub grooves throughout, allowing the listener the opportunity to both rock out or sit back and relax.
Mortar Dub is the one track which holds it shape from start to end, paying respect to the styles of King Tubby. This is quickly wiped away however by the machine-like start to Regression Line, its power reinforced by a laid-back bridge two-thirds of the way through.
Mike Patton provides the only vocals on the album for No Flag. This track proves more dark and sinister than their previous collaboration, Not Alone, for Patton’s Peeping Tom project. Whilst the vocals from Patton are a welcome addition to the album, they also demonstrate that having no vocals is what makes Dub Trio sound unique. There’s a real focus on minor effects and variations in sound, something that a vocalist would distract from.
Dub Trio have fused post-metal and dub together much like Bad Brains managed to mix reggae/dub with a punk attitude. This album is an experience whereby listeners can sit back and enjoy or really concentrate and pick up little nuances with each listen.
