Reviews    Ogre - Dawn of the Proto-Man (Wurmhole Records)
by Chris Barnes

New England's Ogre is vintage. Vintage Pentagram, Cirith Ungol, AC/DC, Uriah Heep and Grand Funk stuffed in a pepper grinder and sprinkled ever so lovingly over stacks of Marshall brand amplification.

When this band gets cookin', there's nothing like it. The break on "Colossus" when vocalist/bassist Ed heats up the bass is beyond reproach, as is the very Heep/Ungol-ish multitextured moods of the multi-movement "The Jaded Beast" composition. "Suicide Ride" is, in a two words, fucking phenomenal, recalling Cathedral's "Midnight Mountain" in infectious riff/groove/and all out rock power. Doom epic "Black Death" is smothered in old school Pagan Altar-loving and vintage Sabbath kisses. Like a valentine on Halloween.

There are some problems, which in retrospect aren't that big of a deal given the strengths. Ed has a great voice. I've never heard a better Bon Scott than ol' Bon himself on "78". Or a better Lemmy. The one glaring inconsistency, however, is the vocals. Ed is better off being himself than trying to be everyone else. This leads into the next problem... Ogre does the 70's exceptionally well, but sometimes the styles seem too disparate. It's obvious that they've found their sound, they just need to stick to it to give future albums more of a flow. Other than that, great listening, especially for you cult '70's heads out there. Check it out.

Track Listing
1. Ogre
2. Colossus
3. 78
4. The Jaded Beast (i. Out of the East, ii. Invasion)
5. Skeletonized
6. Suicide Ride
7. Black Death (i. De Vermis Mysteriis, ii. Rats, Lice, and History)

Purchase Dawn of the Proto-Man at the Hellride Music Superstore

Download an MP3 of Skeletonized

Visit the Ogre website at www.ogrerock.com

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Review by Chris Barnes 10/22/03