Band Of The Week: (Damn) This Desert Air

I love it when it’s been a while since you’ve heard from a band you like and they drop new music and it’s really good. That’s the case with this weeks Band Of The Week, (Damn) This Desert Air. It had been a few years since there was new music from this band. Their last album, Pyramids, still finds its way into rotation for me and it’s still a rocking record. Now, they have released a new EP called Nebulosity and it’s chock full of crunchy riffs, hard hitting rhythms and soaring melodic vocals. (Damn) This Desert Air is a band that has taken their cues from the space rock of the 90’s (Failure and Hum), added some cool post-hardcore vibes (a la Quicksand) and some melodic grunge in the way that STP did on Core and Purple. When you listen to the song “Body Anchor (Back In Atlantis),” you can definitely hear all three of those influences come into play. There is also a real maturity to this band as well that will probably get overlooked. That element has given these new songs a real sense of purpose and urgency. The passion you can hear in the performances are undeniable and it truly gives new life to this band. A song like “Lonely Train” is a great example of this. Nebulosity is a great way for (Damn) This Desert Air to come back. This EP is an encapsulation of what they’ve done in the past and are working towards. I urge anyone that reads this to really take the time to listen to this band. The pure nature of what this band is really shines. I’m quite excited to have them back and hope this is just the beginning of more to come.

(Damn) This Desert Air- Nebulosity:

(Damn) This Desert Air- Body Anchor (Back In Atlantis):

Album Review: Despite The Raven- Hereinafter

One of the most fulfilling things about writing this blog is the chance to hear new music all the time. Sometimes out of the bunches that are sent my way, there are those that really stand out amongst the pack. Over the weekend I received that debut album from Despite The Raven. I’ve been looking forward to this album for a while now. After hearing Craig Cirinelli in his other bands (Damn) This Desert Air and Hidden Cabins, I had a feeling that this new project would be the next step in his musical path. Teaming up with guitarist Chris Homentosky, this dynamic duo has created an album that stretches past the influences of the 90’s contemporaries and pushes deeper with each song. The eleven songs on this album are full of great rock n roll with added elements of ambience and soulful melodies. Song’s like “Where Fear and Courage Meet,” “Contrition,” “Tarred and Feathered,” “The Opportunist,” “The Maven,” and closing track “Walk Alone (The Unapology)” really showcase what this band is all about. Craig’s lyrics are personal yet open to interpretation allowing an added sense of discovery throughout the album. Despite The Raven are one of those bands that when they start taking the stage you’ll be wanting to pay attention. By the indication of listening to this album, you’ll get swept away by the sheer beauty of it. This album is definitely a cause for celebration. Do yourself a favor and delve into this.

 

Despite The Raven: HEREINAFTER

 

By: Brian Lacy

Bands Of The Week: Review

Instead of posting about a new band today, I thought it was a great idea to compile all the bands that have been featured here into one post for you all to check out in case you missed one.

Aeges  http://aeges.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/aegesband

And We Are Them https://www.facebook.com/AndWeAreThem http://andwearethem.bandcamp.com/

Ghost Idols http://ghostidols.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GhostIdols

Lightsystem http://lightsystem.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/lightsystem http://www.lightsystem.us/

Open Hand https://www.facebook.com/OpenHandRocks http://www.reverbnation.com/openhand

Mossbreaker https://www.facebook.com/mossbreaker http://mossbreaker.bandcamp.com/

Sidewave https://www.facebook.com/Sidewave.music http://sidewaveband.com/

Anakin http://anakinmusic.com/ https://www.facebook.com/anakinmusic http://anakinmusic.bandcamp.com/

Damn This Desert Air https://www.facebook.com/damnthisdesertair http://damnthisdesertair.bandcamp.com/

Interstelar https://www.facebook.com/interstelarLA http://interstelar.bandcamp.com/ http://interstelar.com/

HiddenAmongst Us http://hiddenamongstus.com/ https://www.facebook.com/HiddenAmongstUs http://hiddenamongstus.bandcamp.com/

City Of Ships https://www.facebook.com/cityofships http://cityofships.bandcamp.com/

Destroy Judas http://destroyjudas.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/destroyjudas

New Cathedral http://newcathedralband.com/ https://www.facebook.com/NewCathedralFL

Big Jesus http://bigjesus.bandcamp.com/album/one https://www.facebook.com/bigassjesus http://www.thebigjesus.com/

Dekades http://dekadesofficial.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Dekadesofficial http://dekades.bandcamp.com/

Spirit In The Room https://www.facebook.com/spiritintheroomsounds https://soundcloud.com/spirit-in-the-room

Machines Learning https://www.facebook.com/machineslearning http://machineslearning.bandcamp.com/

Digicide https://www.facebook.com/Digicide http://digicide.bandcamp.com/album/far-from-home

Obliterations https://www.facebook.com/Obliterations http://obliterations.bandcamp.com/

Barrows http://barrowstheband.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/BarrowsTheBand

Wild Throne https://www.facebook.com/wildthrone http://wildthrone.bandcamp.com/ http://www.wildthrone.com/

Goldsboro https://www.facebook.com/goldsboroband http://www.goldsboroband.com/

With Our Arms To The Sun http://www.withourarmstothesun.com/ https://www.facebook.com/WithOurArmsToTheSun

Abloom https://www.facebook.com/abloomband

He Whose Ox Is Gored https://www.facebook.com/hewhoseoxisgoredseattle http://hewhoseoxisgored.bandcamp.com/

Silver Snakes http://www.yearofthesnakes.com/ https://www.facebook.com/yearofthesnakes http://bridge9.bandcamp.com/album/year-of-the-snake

Disquiet http://www.reverbnation.com/disquietsongs/songs https://www.facebook.com/Disquietsongs http://www.disquietsongs.com

Young Hunter http://younghunter.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Young-Hunter/127424170682508

Black Map http://www.blackmapmusic.com/ https://www.facebook.com/blackmapmusic http://blackmapmusic.bandcamp.com/album/driver

Band Of The Week: (Damn) This Desert Air

There truly is a great deal of great music that has gone unheard. In this day and age of DIY mentality its a shame that so many have to go unheard my the masses. Enter (Damn) This Desert Air, hailing from New Jersey. They were formed in 2007. They have a distinct melodic rock sound that is infused with space rock riffs and post-hardcore. Picture Quicksand, Failure, Hum, and Stone Temple Pilots all together. (Damn) This Desert Air have appeared on numerous compilations, samplers, tribute album appearances on both the Failure and Hum Tributes. (Damn) This Desert Air have had their previous albums/E.P’s mixed by Brian Virtue. Their most recent album Pyramids is catchy and infectious. The opening track “Hanger” is full of melodic hooks. The song “Slave” takes the direction of space rock and shows the more delicate side the band all the while keeping their hard edge. The album also includes a cover of Quicksand’s “Shovel.”

(Damn) This Desert Air have melded their influences into something that is loud and booming yet doesn’t take away from the purity of the songs. They are really on to something, and hopefully can make their way out to the West Coast for some shows.

https://www.facebook.com/damnthisdesertair

http://damnthisdesertair.bandcamp.com/

By: Brian Lacy