Dreadnought - "Ode to Ether" and "Minuet De Lune"

August 6, 2015

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These days, musicians that stick closely to genre cliches seem less common than those that include elements drawn from disparate sources. Perhaps we can attribute this to the rise of information technology—now that everything from power pop to power electronics lies just a click away, it’s no wonder that artists are borrowing from a wider pool of influences.

Colorado’s Dreadnought aren’t the first band to fit this trend, but their doom-based mix of black metal, folk, post-rock and prog feels unique, as does their take on the genre-blending craze as a whole. Listeners looking for a fresh approach to big, syrupy riffs a la Sub Rosa or Cave of Swimmers will find much to like in their sound.

Dreadnought’s new record, Bridging Realms, begins with the eerie ambience of “Ode to Ether.” The song sounds relatively commonplace at first, but the band’s choice to layer flute, saxophone, bells and ethereal female vocals over the more standard droning guitars sets it apart. About four minutes and 30 seconds in, Dreadnought remind us that they do, in fact, play metal, complementing a bluesy motive with frigid screams. This moment belies the genius of Bridging Realms. The subsequent heavy section references completely different styles than the first four minutes and a half minutes, but somehow it all sounds unified. This remains true throughout the album, placing Dreadnought a rung above legions of bands that combine countless appealing styles but forget about the importance of fluid songwriting.

Stream Bridging Realms below.

Catch Dreadnought on tour:
8/6 Denver, CO @ The Marquis Theater
8/7 Cheyenne, WY @ The Shop
8/8 Omaha, NB @ O’Leavers Pub
8/9: Chicago, IL @ The Burlington
8/10 Detroit, MI @ New Dodge Lounge
8/11 Oshawa, Ontario, CAN @ The Atria
8/12 Montreal, Quebec, CAN @ L’Alizé
8/13 Somerville, MA @ PA’s Lounge
8/14 Kingston, NY @ The Anchor
8/15 Philadelphia, PA @ Fire Shot
8/16 Baltimore, MD @ The Depot
8/18 Pittsburgh, PA @ The Mr. Roboto Project
8/19 Cincinnati, OH @ The Drinkery
8/20 Louisville, KY @ The Cure
8/21 St Louis, MO @ Fubar
8/22 Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room Patio
8/23 CO Springs @ The Flux Capacitor