Dogpound - The Hellbum

Year of Release: 2003
Label: Lion Music
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 43:58:00

The saying "don't judge a book by it's cover" is very relevant in music, as quite often the cover of an album is that what makes people either pick it up and look closer or leave it and walk away. In this respect the cover of the debut album of the Swedish quartet Dogpound, The Hellbum, may not be so representative for the music they bring. It sends out the image of a nu-metal band, like Limp Bizkit or even a rap album, combined with the name. But none of that is correct.

Dogpound, originally named Frozen Miffo, after one of the members' fav drummer, started out as an idea between some classmates at the Nordic School of Rock Music who wrote a few songs, "Bleed" and "Live My Way" and by 2000 they had recorded some more songs as a demo. After lots of trouble with labels, the whole idea almost went overboard, but at the end of 2002, they gave it one last chance and sent their demo to Lion Music. And here they are with their first album: The Hellbum.

So, what kind of music can we expect then? As said, it's not a rap band nor a nu-metal band. No, these guys filled their debut album with up-tempo hard rock songs, some of which would fit radio airplay quite well, like "Bleed" or "Way High Up." Musically I found the album has a consistent sound, but in the first 4 songs, it might become a bit boring, as I hear the same kind of guitar lines in every song. Here track 5, "Way Up High" is a welcome change in the melody and guitar parts. Hea's vocals remind me of the rock singers you can hear on the radio, but it's not bad to listen to him. The three other band members, Micke (guitars), Figge (bass) and Tuka (drums), provide the massive sound of the album, although unfortunately mainly that is all they do. The guitar solo in "Ready To Believe" shows Micke is capable of much more with his guitar than bombastic riffs and I do miss that in the music. So far I did not hear any elements in their music that might put them in the category "progressive" rock or metal. No keys as well.

For a hard rock album, The Hellbum, is not bad, but it lacks originality. Most of the songs are standard hard rock melodies, with lot's of heavy guitars, but no really cool solos ... just a few, nice, but nothing spectacular. Still, they show they have talent, so let's hope they will explore this more and maybe next time put their education into practice and bring us an album with more than just heavy drums and guitars, but more variety in melody, tempo and sound.

[This review originally appeared April 2004 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]
Tracklisting:
End Of Our Days / Bleed / When The World Comes Down / Going Down In Flames / Way Up High / Loser On A King's Throne / Ready To Believe / You Remain / ...For My Sins / Silent Screams / Welcome To The Mystery

Musicians:
Figge - bass
Micke - guitars
Hea - vocals
Tuka - drums

Discography:
The Hellbum (2003)

Genre: Melodic Rock-AOR

Origin SE

Added: December 12th 2004
Reviewer: Marcel Haster
Score:
Artist website: Dogpound.da.ru
Hits: 2270
Language: english