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 UMR Discovery January 4, 2003 |
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The one band that I distinctly remember discovering through UMR is Drain
STH.
I bought their 'Horror Wrestling' CD the same day 
I read the review, and
it didn't leave my CD player for weeks. I must have stumbled on to them
when I read the review for Alice in Chains - Facelift (another classic!). I
was curious about this band that had apparently emulated the heavy, dark,
and wonderfully sludgy AIC sound. Then I read that the band was an
all-female group from Sweden, and I knew I was hooked! I'll admit that I
have a soft spot for the few hard rockin' females who can kick as much ass
as their male metal counterparts. Drain STH has definitely joined Phantom
Blue in my personal "chick metal" Hall of Fame.
The songs on Horror Wrestling are hard, heavy, and flawlessly executed, and
the women have mastered that "slow drone" sound that I love.
The comparisons to early Alice in Chains are obvious, but their sound is still
quite unique.
And don't miss their version of "Ace of Spades" I'm sure I would have heard about Drain STH eventually, but it's tough when this type of music gets no airplay or promotion on TV or the radio (at least here in Southern California). The internet is an invaluable tool for discovering and checking out new bands, and through it I've been turned on to what has become one of my favorite bands!
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Serve the Shame--RealAudio
(featured on the 1998 reissue of 'Horror Wrestling').
I love it
when bands put their own stamp on a cover tune rather than just imitating
the original, and Drain STH do not disappoint with this Drained-down version
of the Motorhead classic.
Sadly, it appears as if the band has broken up following their sophomore album ('Freaks of Nature'),
a solid effort that proved 'Horror Wrestling' was no fluke. I hope
the members' future projects show the quality and metal chops of Drain STH.
