DORIAN GREY

"Semjaza" (Dorian Grey; 2009)

Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton

 

If, when listening to Dorian Grey's "Semjaza," you're expecting something along the lines of Thorn Fetish (the band he fronts), then you're in for one really big surprise.

Whereas Thorn Fetish is a metal band with a decidedly evil slant (song titles like "Pissin' in the Holy Water" might give you a clue), "Semjaza" sounds instead like a movie soundtrack from a movie that's part Braveheart and part Zombie movie. It's got horror movie elements, it's got classical elements, it's dark and sinister.

It's also not rock'n'roll by any stretch of the imagination. It's an instrumental soundtrack to a movie that doesn't exist. And I don't mean like the compilation CDs that are all the rage these days (how many "Saw" CDs are there now?), but rather a score CD -- the music you hear in the background as the movie plays out on screen.

Though it gets a somewhat repetitious at times, and the production is a little stiff, "Semjaza" isn't a bad listen. As a fan of movie scores myself, I found it quite listenable. As a rock'n'roll fan -- especially a metal fan -- I don't think I'd have much interest in it.

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Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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Copyright © 2011 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
Revised: 18 Mar 2024 13:45:57 -0500.