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REVIEWS: Blastmat - Theme For a Dying World Punk Rock! From the ashes of the band Sanity Assassinscomes Blastmat. The story goes: Sanity Assassins members Andy Reitano (guitar) and Keith Donaldson (AKA Keith Grave, bass) came together with Philip Swanson (vocals) when Philip joined the band in early 2001 for a run of live shows around New England. Due to protracted problems filling the vacated drummer's spot in the line up, Philip and Andy left the band soon thereafter. The two met up with drummer Ed LaGraize and with a call to Keith the new band, Blastmat was formed. The press kit tells how some of the first songs they started playing together were Motorhead's "Ace of Spades", Dead Boys' "Sonic Reducer" and a punked out version of the Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun" and I think that's a pretty good picture to pain to describe the music of this debut CD. Add to that the cover of AC/DC's "Dog Eat Dog" that closes the record and I think you can see where where going... This CD kicks ass! These guys have been around not only having been in the aforementioned Sanity Assassins, but also being members of Stitch, White Pigs, Free Love Society, KYD to name a few (Keith's personal discography is longer than ODB's rap sheet) and it shows with super tight spot-on performances all around. For me, punk can be a bit of a slippery slope and I don't really buy into the "we play like shit- ain't we cool?" brand that some people try to pass off as "punk rock". That ain't punk rock. THIS is punk rock- but punk that's not constrained by a limited group of influences and this band allows their varied influences to come into play without having them throw anything off track. I understand the band's playing out now and if this sounds like something you'd be into, I'd suggest getting out there to check them out and picking up the CD. Kick ass. Blastmat - Theme For a Dying World This is metallic hardcore with a real political edge dealing with issues such as religion and war. This switches from melodic, medium paced punk rock to full out blistering hardcore with powerful vocals. Blastmat is made up of ex`members of Sanity Assassins, White Pigs (who released a great split CD in 1995: "Dead Mans Hand") and Stitch. All the music is played very well and it has to be with this type of hardcore otherwise it all gets very messy- but these guys keep it tight all the way. There is a real Discharge feel to Blastmat and thats obviously a big influence on this band- but they are definitely not a Discharge copy band- not in the least- they have taken and influence and cultivated their own sound. There are some really great tracks on this: "You and Yours", "Desensitized" and "It All Comes Down". Theres a cover of AC/DCs "Dog Eat Dog" too-That can only be a good thing! This to me is good sounding, true hardcore- not macho bullshit... TOXIC FLYER (US) Blastmat - Theme For a Dying World Totally 80s styled hardcore along the lines of Murphys Law, TSOL and early Discharge. But Blastmat will also hit you with a metallic side as well that has an early crossover feel. The cover of AC/DCs "Dog Eat Dog" is way cool as well. (VG+) HARDCORE Blastmat -
Theme For a Dying World Well, I must be honest with you, when I first read the title of the CD, I though "Oh here we go, one of those bands that complains." So when I got to my CD player to have some "quality time" (just me and the music), I played the whole thing through, and then I played it again and again. It's amazing, with songs called "Taliban Fight Song," and "Church and State," you'd think it would be one of those political bands. Yes, they are, but in a good way. They have insight and they do not come off sounding like "ARGH I hate America, ARGH I hate this and that." They sound like something that every one of you people out there should pick up. They are what they like to call a "politcally motivated hard-core metallic punk band," with influences like Discharge, Motorhead, Misfits, Ramones and yes, even AC/DC. Some of you might think, "How can AC/DC and The Ramones go together?" Well I'll tell you to listen to "Theme of a Dying World," and you'll see. This CD is a must have, and you should pick it up! Blastmat - Theme For a Dying World If anyone was/is familiar with Sanity
Assassins, Blastmat is made up of Andy and Keith, along
with Philip Swanson and Ed LaGraize This CD ranges from
metallic hardcore (but not metalcore) to thrashy
hardcore-punk. The vocal style is quite unusual for the
hardcore/punk realm, BUT are really good and a nice
change to the normal, with a good vocal range too from
actual singing to powerful hardcore vocals. With songs
called "Lives for Lies", "Taliban Fight
Song," and "Church and State" - a really
good song this one, at first a fast thrashy hardcore-punk
song then some bag pipes, and then back thrasy again,
great! - you know where there coming from. Blastmat - Theme For a Dying World Jerry Actually - January 28, 2002 "Motorhead
you can call me Motorhead, remember me I'm Motorhead, All
right!" That aside, Hartford Connecticut’s
Blastmat delivers up some Motorheadesque sounds combined
with their own spin on the Hardcore/Metal sound. Blastmat
features former members of Sanity Assassins, Stitch and
the White Pigs (this doesn't mean much to me out here on
the west coast, but perhaps some of you right-coasters
will gain some insight from it.) This CD like others in
my collection has the ability to grow on you after
repeated listening. I would like to point out that there
is a shit-ton of metal influence going on with this CD.
The copy I have is done quite well compared to so many
other DIY efforts I’ve heard. Personal highlights
include the opening riff of “New Messiah” (It
reminds me of a riff I wrote a few years back) and the
bagpipes on “Church and State”. Lows include
guitar solos and AC/DC covers. Overall if you’ve
never left your 1988 aggressive metal days, try Blastmat
on for size. Martijn Welzen Every band seems to be into a piece of the streetpunk style that’s living its highlights these past few years. Many of them will never get to a point where they get the recognition original bands deserve. Blastmat has the potential to get on the high-speed train. “Theme..” in itself is a unique mix of punk / oi in the vein of The Business mixed with some old fashioned hardrock from bands like Motörhead or AC / DC (their cover “Dog Eat Dog” confirms this idea). Furthermore some The Freeze insanity and some Discharge crust-like chaos, bring this band to ramming speed. These guys from East Hartford (USA) started off as Sanity Assassins, but carry the marks of many metal, hardcore, Goth bands they played in even before that band. More than ten years of hard work give them this special sound. From, Ct. I have received the CD, it took me awhile to take this in and I found it to be very convincing. What a strange mix of influences to go from the Misfits to Motorhead and leaning towards Discharge, GBH and AC/DC (they do a cover of "Dog Eat Dog"). The melodies and tempo's reminded me of Avail - from the most recent time. Ten of the songs are politically motivating and in all actuality not bad. |