Doctor Smoke – Dreamers And The Dead
Release Date: 3rd September 2021
Label: Ripple Music
Bandcamp
Genre: Heavy Metal, Hard Rock.
FFO: Angel Witch, Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats, Ozzy.
Review By: Kenny Newall
Kicking off with a meh intro, ooh riff, hmm verse and then back to meh for the chorus, Doctor Smoke’s sophomore release, Dreamers And The Dead had me thinking that where’s there’s smoke, maybe there sometimes ain’t no fire. And track 2 had me thinking the same until just shy of halfway it kicks off and sparked my interest. Up till then it was trying to work out who the singer reminded me of (An Ozzy, Mike Tramp blend with a smattering of Dave Mustaine). and the fact I have to listen to it for the review that kept me from hitting skip.
And it finally all comes together on track 3, Waking Dreams with the first catchy chorus of the album. Next track, Out Of Time adds a noice! instrumental section to the catchy chorus, but it’s Been Here Forever that brings it all together for a genuine standout track, possibly only bettered by finisher, The Hallowed Ground (video below). Though Vexed is the riffer.
As for what Doctor Smoke sounds like, the video is what they are. They don’t really stray into experimentation, sticking to the heavy metal inspired stylings, though focus seems to be on the more hair metal inspired vocals and they’re what’ll get stuck in your head unlike say, AC/DC where it’s just as often the riff*. Which is where the album lets me down. I need my riffs. My licks. My blistering solos. Dreamers And The Dead have them, but just not enough and not original enough to make me want to revisit them that often. In saying that, I preferred their debut, The Witching Hour and that I’ll revisit.
*In general the main difference between men and women isn’t which way round they hang the toilet paper, but that men sing riffs out loud. Randomly in a queue is always a favourite.
(3 / 5)
