Damad Possess Amazing Artistry and Depth
by
Fastcore James
"Burning Cold" was the final full-length by Savannah, Georgia's Damad, one of the most underrated (but consistently excellent) crust/hardcore bands of the '90's. Unfortunately, the original release of this album was delayed several months while the iconic artist Pushead (former vocalist of Septic Death) completed his fascinating cover piece. Damad never had much opportunity to play shows or tour behind "Burning Cold", which is a shame, because this album has always been a cornerstone of their brilliant discography. Should you have doubts about delving into "metallic crust" by purchasing this release on iTunes, there are a few key facts that might tip you into buying this immediately. First of all, Damad featured the guitar talents of one Philip Cope, who would later make a more well-known impression on the wider metal community with Kylesa. His guitar work in Damad paints a fascinating impression of his earlier style, which combined non-linear single notes with a wall of pulverizing rhythm guitar. Second, Damad's lyrics were some of the best to emerge from the turbulent Southern crust underground of the '90's. Vocalist Victoria is unlike any female vocalist you've ever heard; upon first listen, her absolutely scathing bellow can be downright scary. However, "Burning Cold" found her stretching out with an occasional descent into ethereal and genuinely haunting clean vocals, which always set this album apart as a personal favorite of mine in Damad's towering discography. Third, "Burning Cold" was released by none other than Prank Records, the same label that released bands such as Talk Is Poison and His Hero Is Gone. If you're familiar with those names, you might agree that Prank deserves accolades as one of the greatest hardcore punk record labels to ever exist. Do you really need a fourth reason to invest a few dollars in this!? Well, let's mention the obvious: an excellent, high-quality digital version sits before you on iTunes … for a mere $7.92! I'm capable of spending more than that on vegan food at lunchtime! Seriously, you should scrape together that tiny amount of money, then prepare yourself for the opening sample on "Burning Cold" to work its way into your mind, before that mind-blowing, aqueous guitar rips out of your earbuds, accompanied by those unmatched, cathartic, roaring vocals. "Burning Cold" by Damad is a listening experience that may well change your appreciation of punk rock forever!
