Who needs Reagge? We've got the Dub Trio!

Intro: Dub for Dummies.

Dub began as a remix art for Reggae where the vocals, horns, keyboards and guitars would be faded out or removed, leaving just the bass and drums. Periodically throughout tracks, elements of the guitars, vocals, keys and horns would be echoed through the piece. It is widely known for its repetitive and reverberating feel. Dub bass has become a very distinct style of bass playing.

Album: Another Sound is Dying
Artist: Dub Trio
Genre: Dub Metal
Year: 2008
Label: Ipecac

I’ll skip the moping and get straight to the point. For those of you who never thought you’d live long enough to see a Dub/Metal crossover band, meet the Dub Trio, a band from New York whose name says it all. Their new album, “Another Sound is Dying” was released on Ipecac Records, which is how I found them. Specifically, I found them through Mike Patton’s Peeping Tom project. The last track on Peeping Tom’s debut was the song “We’re Not Alone (Remix);” the original version appears on the Dub Trio’s sophomore album “New Heavy”. But we’re here to talk about the most recent album.

If the idea of Dub Metal makes you skeptical, worry not. These goons are masters at both Dub and Metal and play them with skill. True to Dub form, sounds reverberate throughout the album and echo far into the distance and back again. The name Dub Trio is only slightly misleading as much of the album focuses on the Instrumental Metal that makes up half the bands repertoire. But when they Dub, it sounds really, really good. “Mortar Dub,” the 5th track on the album is a perfect Dub; slow, echo filled and bass heavy. Another great track is “No Flag” on which Mike Patton returns for a vocal take. This track is far different from “We’re Not Alone” which had the possibilities of Pop aspirations (Peeping Tom was a Pop project so its inclusion is telling.) No such Pop presence exists on “No Flag” which features Patton on some of his screaming best. The whole album is excellent, with nary a weak track. But the definitive best comes with the track “Agonist” which is at the same time the best Dub and Metal track on the album. The album probably gets its name from the final track, which ends with what sounds like the amplifiers sputtering out. But the band continues to play, completely frying the amps and leaving us with the sound of silence.

The cons of this album are few and far between, though they’re there. It can be a little repetitive at times (but really, what do you expect from Dub) and if you don’t like Metal or Dub then you won’t find much to like. But aside from that, if you have gone your whole life without hearing Dub, Metal or Dub Metal, pick this up and see what you think.