It isn't often that a band like Dry Kill Logic comes along - a band
whose musical depth exceeds its anger. That is not to say that the
music lacks attitude, in fact it is downright pissed off, but with a focus
that is not often heard in heavy music today. Singer Cliff Rigano,
guitarist Scott Thompson, bassist Dave Kowatch and drummer Phil
Arcuri deftly combine their uniquely-styled rage, tension and talent
into an explosive mixture that separates them from others in their
genre.
Originally formed in Westchester, New York in 1995, Dry Kill Logic took
their cue from the proverbial gods of metal -- Pantera, Tool, King
Diamond, Sepultura and Fear Factory. In 1997 they released their first
EP 'Cause Moshing Is Good Fun' on their own Psychodrama Records.
"Psychodrama is everywhere," Cliff explains. "I've always felt that the
forces of stupidity surround the human race constantly. Everything has
to be a really big deal these days. People aren't willing to let go of
even the smallest thing." After wracking up some prime opening slots
for the likes of Exodus, Flotsam & Jetsam, and Pro-Pain, the band went
into the studio in July '98 with producer Andy Katz (Overkill, Local H,
Rakim) to cut a full length effort, 'Elemental Evil'. Quickly hailed by
their peers as a force to be reckoned with, they were invited to share
the stage with Coal Chamber, Incubus, Anthrax, System of a Down,
and the Misfits, just to name a few. "When we get on stage it's such a
ferocious, violent show," Cliff states. Despite the local successes,
internal tensions in the band were running high and when their
then-guitarist split, Dry Kill Logic decided to spend 1999 taking some
time off and strategizing their next move. This was not to be the end of
Dry Kill Logic, it was merely the calm before the storm.
After this much needed break, Dry Kill Logic regrouped with a
vengeance. In their search to fill the vacant guitar slot, the band met
Scott Thompson, who was working as a piercer at a tattoo shop at the
time, through a mutual friend and hit it off straight away. "You can
spend years writing with people and never get anywhere," Cliff admits.
"Then you can spend minutes with the right person and get ten times
as much accomplished. Hinge was taken to a new level once Scott
joined." Phil couldn't agree more "Scott was a blessing in disguise. We
all instantly clicked and he fit right in." The newly forged foursome
started writing for the new record in February of 2000 and went into the
studio with Scrap 60 Productions (Eddie Wohl, Steve Regina and Rob
Caggiano) in August. With the fire in them burning strong, they quickly
tracked the 13 anything-but-quiet tunes that were to become The
Darker Side of Nonsense. Talking about the session, Phil is still ecstatic
"It was off the wall. We all knew what we were trying to do and
everyone was on the same page. The vibe was great."
The intensity and fury on every track on The Darker Side of Nonsense
is almost palpable from the churning guitars to the pummeling rhythm
section, every track is a catharsis of sorts. "The funny thing is that the
songs aren't about anything in particular. I don't write them with an
issue or a person in mind," Cliff explains, "I like for people to get out of
them what they will. It's not that they are anger for anger's sake - they
are very much a part of me." "The new stuff shows we're fed up with
everything," Phil states. "We wanted it to be straight-up just heavier
and more in-your-face." From the opening assault of "Nightmare", with
its screaming chorus of "Me + You = Nightmare" to the all out aural
pummeling of "Pain" to the more melodic yet equally deadly "Feel
the Break," The Darker Side of Nonsense is sure to put Dry Kill Logic
atop the pantheon of heavy music.
HINGE is a beast of its own one that claws at you and gets under your
skin and into your head the way that few bands do. Prepare for The
Darker Side of Nonsense to do some permanent damage to your
cerebral cortex.
