Search - Dog Fashion Disco :: Adultery

"Adultery" could win a Grammy, Oscar, Tony, and Emmy.

C. Bakehorn | Bloomington, IN | 10/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dog Fashion Disco, commonly compared to other "strange" bands like System Of A Down, and more closely, Mr. Bungle, released their fifth album in April. "Adultery," which is essentially a story in itself, features some of their best and most creative work to date. As a result, it's an album that fans of metal, rock, punk rock, jazz, alternative...well, basically any genre shouldn't miss.



One must understand that "Adultery" is a story. Much like a film, as time goes by, the story is unfolded and if attention isn't paid, the story isn't understood. Each song is considered a "Chapter" in the story. The album begins with the chilling piano-and-whispers track, "The Uninvited Guest," which introduces the story's "character." The brief exposition is then lit on fire by the brief, blazing-fast drum solo that introduces "Sacrifice Of Miss Rose Covington." This brutal track shows off the heavy metal side of Dog Fashion Disco and also vocalist Todd Smith's raw, from-deep-down-the-throat roar. More than midway through the song is a buildup that takes all of the energy of the song, develops it, and blows it up in the listener's face.



"Silent Film," one of the strange songs on the album, begins with horns and a simple guitar riff that is accompanied by a low, baritone Smith. Midway through the song, there is a period of almost total silence that is disrupted quite forcefully by a random and almost humourous volley of bellows from Smith. "Silent Film" brings the character's deranged, violent thoughts into the story of "Adultery," and it's here that the album's story really picks up. "Sweet Insanity," possibly the closest you'd get to System Of A Down without replacing Serj Tankian with Smith, is a slow-paced, airy song about the character's lack of grasp on his mind. This song shows off Smith's impeccable range, as he changes pitch as easily as he changes socks.



"Desert Grave" is the first real break in the action, giving the listener's ears a break from the almost non-stop rampage that began more than 10 minutes prior to it. This song also imitates a popular sound, this time the super-low bellows of the late Johnny Cash. "Desert Grave" fits into the storyline at a point where the character has fallen in deeply in his dark ways and is quite literally trying to hide his evidence. "Moonlight City Drive" is rather similar to "Silent Film," as it introduces a very strange, Western/Vegas sound. Think synthesizers, horns, guitars, female vocals, and all sorts of crazy percussion. "Private Eye," the seventh track, isn't a song as much as it is an element of the story. It introduces the law to our deranged killer's story, as a detective has spotted the killer and an "unknown female." It becomes obvious that the demented, homicidal sexual predator has gotten in far too deeply, and one of the faster songs on the album "The Darkest Days" begins with a taunting riff that leads into a fast-paced but quiet vocal introduction by Smith. "Darkest Days" shows more of Smith's range, as he goes from quite low to quite high when the chorus begins. The chorus then ends with Smith's scream, which could quite easily shatter walls.



"Dead Virgins Don't Sing," like "Private Eye," isn't much of a song. In fact, it's less of a song and more of a chant. Cultists recite lines in the foreground while haunting music streams in the background, ending with a passionate and uprising speech by a cultist leader. It is assumed that this song indicates our anti-hero's search for a way out of his problems, albeit an unsuccessful attempt. "The Hitchhiker" is another strange song that introduces a little elevator and electronic music into the rock/metal mix, as well as the deep singing from Smith.



Easily the best and most gripping song on the album, "100 Suicides," follows "Hitchhiker." "100 Suicides" begins with a blasting guitars, horns, and drums that eventually go silent and give way to Smith's whispering vocals. The meaning of this song isn't as apparent due to its lyrics, but my interpretation is that the character is completely devoid of a sense of reality and wants to escape back to his past life, reincarnated. "100 Suicides" is most memorable by that guitar/horn combo, but it goes full-steam when it goes into a free-jazz breakdown. This breakdown is one of the most appropriately out-of-place (is that an oxymoron?) pieces of music I've ever heard, and it's helped by a fantastic in-and-out transition. As the song fades back into vocals, Smith's voice reaches a new low that quickly rises back into the fast pace that the song began with.



"Adultery," the title track, is a surprisingly great song that isn't as accessible initially, but makes up the last true song on the album. My interpretation of the song is that, despite his attempts in "100 Suicides," our lunatic character simply can't escape his primal, human lusts, which explains the most haunting and downright terrifying tracks on the album, "Mature Audiences Only." This slightly orchestral, instrumental track plays over almost inaudible samples of our character's confessions of lust, violence, sadistic tendencies that even leads to the possibility of cannibalism.



Dog Fashion Disco, the quintet from Baltimore, MD released a fantastic album in "Adultery." It's an album that can't be broken up to be truly appreciated-one must sit down for the entire album and listen to it from beginning to end to enjoy the storyline. Of course, listening to tracks like "Sacrifice Of Miss Rose Covington," "Sweet Insanity," "The Darkest Days," "100 Suicides," and "Adultery" will do the trick. "Adultery" is an album that, unlike a lot of other metal albums, doesn't offer a lot of creative leeway in its lyrics. It has a meaning in itself, a story, a start and an end. I think this design is fantastic and simply adds to the high level of talent that Dog Fashion Disco possesses.



"Adultery" is a product of Rotten Records, and isn't a super-easy find. It's most easily obtained through ordering online. Mr. Bungle, System Of A Down, and general metal fans wanting to experiment should jump at any chance to check out this album. If for no other reason (which isn't the case), it's a classic for its storyline gimmick and the jazz breakdown in "100 Suicides.""

Peak DFD

EerieVonEvil | The Rabbit Hole | 04/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is DFD's best album, with Committed To A Bright Future coming in a close second. Heavy, Melodic, groovy, sexy, rockin jammy jammage. I mean, what review for this album could REALLY sum it up? Find out for yourself and pick up the most exciting and original album of 2006 and prolly the rest of the decade. This album is a kick in the teeth to all the carbon-copy manufactured radio bands and the whiny, boring emo scene. Best songs are Dead Virgins Don't Sing, 100 Suicides, Rose Covington, and The Hitchhiker. Its time for this band to get some limelight and have some money put BACK in their pockets for all their hard work and originality. Still a force to be reckoned with, Dog Fashion Disco are back with their most GRIM, eclectic album to date. Get all their records if you can b/c they all rule, but Adultery is the cream of the DFD crop. Buy it."

Adultery is Amazing

Cryptor | Brownwood, Tx | 04/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dog Fashion Disco have done it again. Yes they've put out a new disc that outshines their last effort. With their newest cd, Adultery, the band really shows their roots and then adds so much more to the mix. You have all type of generes thrown in throughout the cd. Everything from all out heavy sounding to melodic and creepy sounding. If you're looking for something different and just more refreshing than what's 'hip' in the current music scene then check out DFD. This cd will blow you away. I could go into detail and try to describe each song but until you actaully hear the music then can you fully appreciate the band and their music. It is definately worth every cent you pay for it and I promise you'll be listening to it non-stop. Give the album a chance and give the band a chance, you will not be dissapointed."