Metal Invader by Themis Pamfilos The case of “Captain Dog Rides Again” belongs to those rare occasions that I have a difficulty in writing a review for. But it is a pleasurable kind of trouble, since it’s one of those cases that an album is so good that I feel confined by the limited space that a review offers in order to describe the greatness of this record. And this is because I do not know where to start from, what to mention first, and I know I have to do my best in order to achieve in transferring the feeling and the glory of the music included in this recording. As many of today’s bands, Sweden’s trio BLIND DOG play a multi influenced type of 70’s-based hard and heavy riff-rock (or stoner rock as this unsuccessful, in my opinion, term has prevailed). Yet, there is a fundamental element that sets them worlds apart from most bands of similar musical direction, thus making them so special. This element is their ability to combine many different influences and styles in such a masterful way producing an extraordinary unique blend. “Captain Dog Rides Again” is a very diverse album characterized by the band’s ability to use a wide variety of techniques and styles (even in the same song) producing this way compositions of unusual structure with many rhythm changes and unpredictable development, which constantly surprise you. In the ten songs included in “Captain Dog Rides Again” you will find almost everything. Up-tempo aggressive groovy songs like “Don’t Ask Me Where I Stand” and “Iron Cage”, mid-tempo songs like “Let It Go”, which seems to have come out from a QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE album, and very heavy and doomy ones like “There Must Be Better Ways of Loosing Your Mind” and “Would I Make You Believe” with strong references to KYUSS and BLACK SABBATH (especially the third main riff, if I recall correctly, of the latter brings in mind “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’). And the diversity story goes on with tracks such as “Follow the Fools” with its very retro sound which could easily fit in DUST’s “Hard Attack” album, “Back Off” which starts with a KISS riff to evolve into a heavy blues tune, the FU MANCHU style “Fading Memory” with its killer straight-on doomy riff, and the closing track “Be the Same” that URIAH HEEP would be happy to have included in “The Magician’s Birthday”. In no case I imply that BLIND DOG copy from the above-mentioned bands, instead they use them as sources of inspiration. After all, BLIND DOG are proud to make references to all those HUGE bands that have inspired and influenced them. The way they blend together all those influences and their excellent musicianship (no surprises here, I said they come from Sweden, didn’t I ?) make their compositions sound very original and fresh. In addition, the raw production fits perfectly to the musical style of BLIND DOG and enhances their songs. I think that SPIRITUAL BEGGARS should start worry, as their compatriots with this release raise a claim for the title of Sweden’s best stoner band (American bands need not worry for the moment). Fans of heavy metal, and hard n’ heavy rock (as far as I am concerned stoner is a heavy metal genre, it couldn’t be otherwise as the musical foundations are the same, set out in the golden 70’s) do yourselves a favour and get “Captain Dog Rides Again”, listen it carefully again and again, enjoy it, and I am sure that immediately afterwards you’ll go out trying to find a copy of BLID DOG’s phenomenal debut “The Last Adventures of Captain Dog”. It is extremely rare for me and only in exceptional cases that I rate an album with 6 out of 6, but “Captain Dog Rides Again” is a release that I have no hesitation in doing so. I have a feeling that halfway through 2003 I have already found the release that will top my year’s best albums list! -6- << Back to reviews of Captain Dog Rides Again