Dogs Divine
Size of the Fight
Mortal Music
11 Tracks
8th November 2011
The Dogs Divine - Size of the Fight!
Dogs Divine – Springfield – Illinois - USA
Links:
Genre: Rock/Metal
*It’s not the size of the dog in the fight it’s the
size of the fight in the dog*
This gang of rock
n roll reprobates founded in 2007 signed originally to Chavis Records after
just one show!! And released a debut album in the summer of 2008 but not
without the usual line-up changes and the upheaval of managers and booking
agents and are now signed to Mortal Music Inc, after being discovered by Tim
King (Soil) who heard Hell wouldn’t have me) and back in 2011 released this
eleven track CD entitled “Size of the
Fight”
This American
quartet have shared a stage with bands such as Seether, Five Finger Death
Punch, Y&T, Skid Row, Great White and Ratt to name but six but a lot more
besides and to over 40,000 fans which tells me that The Dogs Divine have got a strong foothold on the musical ladder.
It was a shame
that the CD cover arrived in pieces but the CD thankfully survived so the size
of this fight was half and half I would say! The cover aptly depicts a rabid
angry dog’s head in its ear is a ring and around its neck is a chain and
magnificently completed in a stunning khaki and gold effect – The art direction
and cover illustration was done by Stephen Jensen.
Dogs
Great rock
track with gruff vocals superb melodic content and offers a great anthemic
quality. The driving force of drums, balanced
guitar and solid bass it is a good opener – I think these dogs are ready to
fight!
Overnight Sensation
A nice little
chugging riff opens this track along with some nice gravelly vocals and
pounding beats also with spoken lyrics and overall sleaze sound with screeching
guitars that really builds into a superb track.
FDLF
Chunky rhythms
and riffs galore here I defy anyone to try and sit through this without at
least tapping a foot or moving the head in up and down motions virtually
impossible. The guitar just serenades whilst the vocals are not as scathing but
none the less add to this well balanced track.
Gypsy King
An acoustic slide
guitar track, which simply brings deftly plucked strings to the forefront. It
brings a front porch into view and a long haired guy sitting playing his guitar
to the backdrop of a beautiful scenic view. The vocals are just perfect for
this track it builds to a mighty crescendo and no doubt will get a few more
plays once finished.
Hell Wouldn’t Have Me
Turn it up a
notch higher this is definitely the heaviest track so far and brings you out of
your slumber. It adds an excitement with
its chugging guitar riffs and brings you a good satisfying listen. I am not
surprised they got signed after Tim King heard this – it is heavy!
The awesome track - Hell wouldn't have me!
Brand New Addiction
Great bass
hooks and drumming coupled with some of the most amazing riffs around more
scourging vocals with a faster tempo nice driving tones that, once again gets
the head moving and no doubt I can imagine a favourite with the crowd. A Rock n
Roll bluesy number with bite!
One and Only
Chanting vocals
and a driving forceful beat starts this track with lots of food for thought. And
yet another anthemic track that has the frenzied fingers of Karl Von Heilman
working to the bone. “Make way for the one and only Dogs Divine!”
I’m in love with my car
The alternative
cover version of Queen’s – I’m in love with my Car – taken from A night at the
Opera 1975 only the Dogs have made it a lot more heavier and steeped it in rock
n roll blues overtones. Never been a fan
of Queen except in the early part of the 70’s (Seven seas of Rye) after that
they went downhill for me, but the Dogs have given this track a new lease of
life and brought it into the 21st Century although you can still
tell it is a Queen track. Tommy Hart's vocals definitely do this track the
justice it deserves.
Join the Crowd
Nice little
chugger of a track opener here with the rhythm really getting under the skin
and raising interest. This brings images of fists raised high and being singled
out in a haze of stage search lights and to accompany the fists the crowd
singing along to the lyrics whilst the band gets down and dirty on stage.
Really great track!
Gussie
A beautifully sophisticated
track holding a highly polished finish with deep acoustic tones melting to the
sound of a violin and make it a superb instrumental. Reading the cover I think
this track is dedicated to Jim’s Grandfather Gussie who has sadly passed over
but I am in no doubt he would be proud of this track.
One of the Ages
Choppy guitar
that embraces great rhythm, bass and poignant lyrics and wouldn’t be out of
place on a Bon Jovi album.
To sum up The Dogs Divine have produced a really
entertaining album of eleven explosive tracks here for the die hard rock and
blues fan. Although it is nothing new the tracks do engage the listener and
bring to the forefront tracks that people may think were forgotten.
It delves deep
into the past but the instrumental brings a lovely new twist to the mix and
definitively paints new pictures for the memory to behold.
I will
certainly be playing this album again as it takes me back to my roots but now
with a new and up to date feel.
4/5
Track Listing:
Dogs
Overnight
Sensation
FDLF
Gypsy King
Hell wouldn’t
have me
Brand New
Addiction
One and Only
I’m in love
with my car
Join the Crowd
Gussie
One of the Ages
The Dogs Divine
Members:
Tommy Hart – Vocals
Karl Von Heilman – Guitars
Jim Hart – Bass and Vocals
Jeremiah Ross – Drums
Additional Musicians
Anna Accosta
Lucien Croy
Pete Rock
Paul Crosby
Ricky Shelton
