Dogstate - War Baby EP Review
Posted by Hunter on Tue, 29 Nov 2011.
Rich Garcia - Vocals
Paul Garcia - Bass
Wayne Casserly - Drums
Rich Groom – Guitar
Vocals for me are always the making or breaking point for a band, and I remember hearing Godsized for the first time, I expected low level grunts but instead got the excellent delivery of Glen Korner. So when I got the "War Baby" EP from Godsized's good friends, Dogstate, I found myself having a moment of déjà vu. Dogstate have a terrific solid lineup, great guitar riffs, tight drumming, it's all there, and then vocalist Rich Garcia comes in. Again, I expected some sort of second rate disappointing Phil Anselmo, but what I actually got was an almost Billy Idol, Ian Astbury, Wayne Hussey combination. Surprised? Yes indeed!
First track "Colt" is dominated by Garcia, with that Idol / Cult roar, and with the rest of Dogstate being exceptionally tight with a slight bounce, it's actually a very good opener. However, second track "War Baby" was more of a winner with me, with a guitar riff that had a bit more about it, a bit more variance and urgency. By the time you've finished listening to "Colt" and "War Baby" though, you feel like you've got a handle on their "sound".
Third track "Never Enough" may actually be my favourite track on their EP though, the vocals are given a bit more space to breathe, and there's some great main guitar riffs from Rich Groom, it's this track that has really piqued my interest, and it's this one that really really stands out. With final track "I Fall" there's a moment of Led Zeppelin's Kashmir there, and I don't mean this in a derogatory way either, it's a genuinely nicely crafted song. Special mention should also be given to Wayne Casserly's drums too, a very "busy" drummer with some fantastic little fills here and there.
It's always tough reviewing singles or EP's from new (or newish) bands, but there you have it, rock with a bit of a bite / bounce to it, with some unusual vocals. The first two tracks are solid, but it's the third and fourth tracks that add that extra something to the mix. I'm certainly looking forward to hearing more from Dogstate, and I think catching a live performance is definitely worth pursuing! One to watch out for.
To find out more about Dogstate you can find their Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/DogState