Hear This...Bass Drum of Death "I Dunno"

      Without hearing any of their music, a band with the name Bass Drum of Death would quite easily render an assumption that they are of the black metal, death rock type.   By the name, comparisons to bands like Death, Napalm Death, or my personal favorite, Dying Fetus, come easy and lead to a common misnomer about this this terrific band.

      Started by one kid in a basement in Oxford Mississippi, Bass Drum of Death began as a solo project of John Barrett’s as he juggles the singing, guitar playing and bass drumming all on his own.  But very quickly, John Barrett’s left foot was replaced by drummer Colin Sneed tagging them as a full-fledged rock band.  The duo released their debut LP, GB City last April and has since then toured the U.S. as well as Great Britain and Australia.  Far from anything like Dying Fetus, Bass Drum of Death has found success through simple garage rock noises like drums, fuzzy guitar riffs and even fuzzier lo-fi vocals. 

      “I Dunno” is the first song from Bass Drum of Death since GB City.  Along with its release last October, John Barrett gave it the following introduction- "hope you guys enjoy…this is just a rough mix and unmastered, so you may hafta crank it.”  In my opinion, John Barrett couldn’t have hit it more spot on.  “I Dunno,” like the rest of their songs is short and sweet.  Sometimes, Barrett awards himself with a quick little solo in his songs to show off his guitar mastery but finds no use for it here.  Instead, the spotlight falls upon Sneed’s drumming.  It’s nothing to awe at, but in no time, you will find yourself tapping along.  Simplicity is the key here.

      Other than bands like The White Stripes and The Black Keys, it seems like most artists have moved in the opposite direction as they look for new and more technical ways to approach music.  Being the first to do anything is usually cool.  Bass Drum of Death doesn’t care about that instead falling back on the simplistic approach to rock ‘n roll.  And with the recent success and international touring they have begun, why do anything different?