- Written by Alex
For anyone who doesn't know about this band, Dirge Within is a five-piece groove metal band hailing from Chicago that formed in 2007. Their sound and style is a mixed influences from bands like Testament and Pantera. The band recorded a bunch of demos under the name Dirge, and played several small local gigs around Illinois in between 2007 and 2009. In 2009, the band changed their name to Dirge Within and they released their debut album Force Fed Lies in September 2009. The band received a bit more national recognition from their first national tour as a support act for Trivium at the time of the album's release in fall 2009.
The band toured heavily in support of the album throughout 2010 by touring with bands such as Fear Factory, Gwar and Five Finger Death Punch. From 2010 to 2011, the band went under a few lineup changes, and with the current lineup in tact, they just released their sophomore album this past April entitled There Will Be Blood. The album has a lot of heavy moments just like Force Fed Lies, as well as a few more melodic moments than the previous album. Before the band released the album, they released a 3-song EP entitled Absolution, which contained 3 songs that all appear on the official album.
The album's opener,"Bloodletting", is a set-up instrumental before the album kicks into the second track, "For My Enemies", which is one of the heaviest songs on the album. The song features angry vocals from vocalist Jerms Genske sending a hateful message to all the people in his life who didn't think he would get anywhere. The powerful guitar tone and riffs fit perfectly with the angry vocals and lyrics. I think this is a song that many people will be able to relate to in many ways. Track 4 entitled "Memories" is one of Dirge's best melodic songs, which the band made a video for. It's a mid-pacer with harmonized riffs and catchy melodic vocals from Genske. Lead guitarist Chuck Wepfer also delivers a very Alex Skolnick inspired guitar solo.
The track "Absolution" was one of the three songs that appeared on the Absolution EP. The band debuted the song in early 2011 while on a short tour with Nonpoint. The title track has a similarity to For My Enemies. It has a fast, heavy intro before going mid-tempo for the rest of the song. A.L.F (All Lights Fade) is one of the fastest songs on the album, and is also one of the songs from the Absolution EP. This track sort of reminds me of a Trivium song from their album Ascendancy, where it features harsh vocals in the verses and a melodic chorus, which is what Trivium is known for, especially on their first two albums.
The album's closer, "Apathy", is probably the only weak spot of the album. It's a slower song that to me feels like a half-blended smoothie because the song just has one lyric line that is repeated six times, but the solo that Chuck delivers is amazing. It lacks some of the strength, power and creative spirit found in the other tracks.
Dirge Within worked very hard on "There Will Be Blood" to make sure that is tops Force Fed Lies. I wouldn't say that it topped Force Fed Lies, but they surely stepped the bar up in terms of heaviness, melodicism and songwriting. If you haven't heard Dirge Within, then I highly recommend you check them out because even though they've only released two studio albums so far, they definitely need more recognition. Buy the album and help me spread the word of Dirge Within. I'm in touch with Jerms Genske. I met him and the band on the tour with Trivium. I support Dirge Within, so should you.
Final rating: 9 out of 10
For anyone who doesn't know about this band, Dirge Within is a five-piece groove metal band hailing from Chicago that formed in 2007. Their sound and style is a mixed influences from bands like Testament and Pantera. The band recorded a bunch of demos under the name Dirge, and played several small local gigs around Illinois in between 2007 and 2009. In 2009, the band changed their name to Dirge Within and they released their debut album Force Fed Lies in September 2009. The band received a bit more national recognition from their first national tour as a support act for Trivium at the time of the album's release in fall 2009.
The band toured heavily in support of the album throughout 2010 by touring with bands such as Fear Factory, Gwar and Five Finger Death Punch. From 2010 to 2011, the band went under a few lineup changes, and with the current lineup in tact, they just released their sophomore album this past April entitled There Will Be Blood. The album has a lot of heavy moments just like Force Fed Lies, as well as a few more melodic moments than the previous album. Before the band released the album, they released a 3-song EP entitled Absolution, which contained 3 songs that all appear on the official album.
The album's opener,"Bloodletting", is a set-up instrumental before the album kicks into the second track, "For My Enemies", which is one of the heaviest songs on the album. The song features angry vocals from vocalist Jerms Genske sending a hateful message to all the people in his life who didn't think he would get anywhere. The powerful guitar tone and riffs fit perfectly with the angry vocals and lyrics. I think this is a song that many people will be able to relate to in many ways. Track 4 entitled "Memories" is one of Dirge's best melodic songs, which the band made a video for. It's a mid-pacer with harmonized riffs and catchy melodic vocals from Genske. Lead guitarist Chuck Wepfer also delivers a very Alex Skolnick inspired guitar solo.
The track "Absolution" was one of the three songs that appeared on the Absolution EP. The band debuted the song in early 2011 while on a short tour with Nonpoint. The title track has a similarity to For My Enemies. It has a fast, heavy intro before going mid-tempo for the rest of the song. A.L.F (All Lights Fade) is one of the fastest songs on the album, and is also one of the songs from the Absolution EP. This track sort of reminds me of a Trivium song from their album Ascendancy, where it features harsh vocals in the verses and a melodic chorus, which is what Trivium is known for, especially on their first two albums.
The album's closer, "Apathy", is probably the only weak spot of the album. It's a slower song that to me feels like a half-blended smoothie because the song just has one lyric line that is repeated six times, but the solo that Chuck delivers is amazing. It lacks some of the strength, power and creative spirit found in the other tracks.
Dirge Within worked very hard on "There Will Be Blood" to make sure that is tops Force Fed Lies. I wouldn't say that it topped Force Fed Lies, but they surely stepped the bar up in terms of heaviness, melodicism and songwriting. If you haven't heard Dirge Within, then I highly recommend you check them out because even though they've only released two studio albums so far, they definitely need more recognition. Buy the album and help me spread the word of Dirge Within. I'm in touch with Jerms Genske. I met him and the band on the tour with Trivium. I support Dirge Within, so should you.
Final rating: 9 out of 10
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