Dryvetyme Onlyne

Dogs Of Winter
From Soil To Shade
Lap Dance Academy; 2009

As readers of this site can attest, the slight comeback of ‘90s indie rock and second-wave emo of the ‘90s makes me happy, but for most people, it’s the grunge rock from Seattle that defines the music of that decade. I have been personally of the belief that the grunge revival would be late in coming for three distinct reasons: 1) many of the defining artists of that era never really stopped making music (most notably Pearl Jam, Chris Cornell, and Scott Weiland); 2) groups like Creed kept a watered-down version of grunge on the radio for much longer than was necessary; and 3) major media conglomerates spin the top hits of the ‘90s in regular rotation on alternative rock stations alongside new-ish music.

Yet, it seems that Dogs Of Winter have decided that now is the time for the music of 1995 to receive a fresh re-interpretation. On the trio’s debut record, entitled From Soil To Shade, the sounds of Soundgarden and Stone Temple Pilots are revisited with fervent energy, right down to the bluesy ‘70s hard rock guitar licks (you know, the ones that the ‘90s already borrowed), the big rumbling bass lines, and the rough-yet-soaring, passionate vocals with which the many people of Generation X are more than familiar. Thus, despite the band finding its stride on “As You Were” and “Hand Over Fist,” selections like “Ghost,” “Beneath The Fold,” and “Flesh To Stone” are generic rockers that, while they possess respectable muscle, really aren’t that noteworthy.

Moreover, as opposed to the big singles from that era, there aren’t really any riffs on this record that would be instantly recognizable if they were to blare out of my car stereo speakers. All told, the nine songs of From Soil To Shade merely stands as evidence that maybe the world isn’t ready for an actual grunge revival. And that’s too bad, because Dogs Of Winter is ready, willing, and able to take part in such an event.