21 Wounds – Demo / 3 Tracks / 2004 Self-Released / [email protected] / [email protected] / Reviewed 24 March 2004
Coming out of Greencastle, this level of coherence and talent really isn’t to be found anywhere around the area, save for possibly The Good Life. Playing a style of metal that is at its most broad, at times sounding like Iron Maiden, other times like Rob Zombie, 21 Wounds have a sound that is from a few years of practicing hard and having immeasurable talent. The three tracks on this disc are all very Headbangers Ball-worthy, even down to the professional recording on the disc. With the brooding guitars on the 6 minute long “Coalpick”, Jon’s vocals sound like a mixture of System of a Down and Corrosion of Conformity. “Coalpick” also really shows the talent of Dustin’s bass, as there are present some fitting walking bass lines.
Overall, 21 Wounds has a sound that is much more biased towards the mid to late nineties, and as such, have a sound that is not immediately aping off of 20 or 30 popular bands of the time. The CD packaging this go around will confuse you – with the printer-done CD liner, one will be completely shocked when this music starts issuing from their speakers. This brings up the point of having a band perennially be in the underdog position, where individuals will be discounted first off because they are from rural Indiana, and then by having such a DIY CD liner. Most individuals will not be able to divorce themselves from their first impressions, but 21 Wounds is good enough to wrench people from their notions.
In the last few reviews I’ve done, the focus has been towards mainly metal bands. Every few years people say that the classical form of metal is dead, being replaced by the fusion of rap-metal and the like. Bands like Escape From Earth and 21 Wounds are living, breathing, rocking examples of why that statement is faulty. Some bands are out that have been around for over 10 or 15 years that just cannot match the talent of 21 Wounds, who are still well short of the 5 year mark. Pick up this album by emailing either the band members at the addresses given, and I can assure that you will not be disappointed. Last time I checked, they are also looking to play any show that is around their area, so if you like what you hear, book them!
Rating : 7.6/10
Top Track : Coalpick