Review of Dry Kill Logic - The Dead And Dreaming

After releasing an album on Roadrunner, which I guess wasn’t successful enough for DKL to remain on the label, the band releases this full-length on some unknown label. But if you haven’t heard these guys before, don’t be confused; this is no speed metal band! Never hearing their Roadrunner debut, 2001’s The Darker Side of Dreaming, I was pretty skeptical of them knowing the types of bands Roadrunner signs these days. And, I’m sorry to say, I was right.

DKL are everything stereotypical about nu-metal, completely ripping off Korn, sounding like an even worse version of Nothingface or System of a Down. And as much as I hate to say it, I would rather listen to Slipknot or Killswitch Engage than this crap because at least that stuff has some heavy moments to it. DKL’s song structures are completely unoriginal, following the standard light-heavy-light-heavy nu-metal format of songwriting. Vocalist Cliff Rigano even uses that annoying, angst-ridden Jonathan Davis whisper voice, with cheesy lyrics one would expect from a nu-metal band. Even his gruff sounding vocals are an imitation of that dreadlocked fruitcake. We’ve heard it all before. He will sing clean for about 30 seconds over some melodic part, then scream the chorus as the guitars get chunkier, and then get back into singing with that fruity voice of his. His singing voice sounds a lot like the guy from SOAD. Even the band’s heaviest parts suck, with only one guitarist in the band and I believe only one bass drum.

The Dead and Dreaming is co-produced by Rob Caggiano of Anthrax fame, who plays guest guitar on a couple of tracks as well. On a positive note, they are decent musicians and guitarist Jason Bozzi is capable of pulling off some insane and pretty creative solos like at the very end of “200 Years” or in “Buckles”, which unfortunately has one of the most annoying choruses I have ever heard. Soloing like that would sound incredible over some insanely fast death metal, but it almost contrasts DKL’s more melodic and commercial sound.

And commercial is exactly what these guys are trying to be, so as far as I’m concerned the mainstream can have them ‘cause the underground doesn’t want them. There is just far too much bad outweighing the good with these guys, but who knows, if you’re someone who actually likes nu-metal then perhaps you’ll like DKL.

Release Details

Dry Kill Logic

The Dead And Dreaming

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