Last year, Have A Nice Life dropped an album that was heavy on cynicism, light on schmaltz. Now and again I like to listen to a “metal” band that takes themselves so seriously they’re driven to act out the church-burning fantasies the other neglected children, the ones who don’t grow up to be Michael Myers, often have. Occasionally I’ll entertain the heavier acts that recognize their violent urges with bloody tongue-of-thyne-enemy in cheek. A healthy hit of drug innuendos is okay too, just in case I ever have kids and need something for them to accidentally discover, and, you know, get all corrupted over.
Aside from the very seldom occasion when I purposely turn off my bullshit radar, I want my metal to be brutally honest and brutally brutal without the feeling of having stumbled into Mitt Romney’s most delusional parenting-related nightmare. Dan Barrett is the real deal. He probably drives an unassuming pickup truck that is actually possessed by the demon that writes all of Robert W. Chambers’ stories. He layers drum machine under Casio tones under dirge like vocals in a no-frills way that is austere and has come to define him. The first released song from Barrett’s new solo project has the same DNA as Have A Nice Life, but the lack of collaboration hints at a project that will be much more personal.
• The Flenser: http://theflenser.com
• Enemies List Home Recordings: http://enemieslist.net
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