Los Gatos, CA, is an affluent suburb of San Jose,
one with finely manicured lawns and equally fine
institutions of education. So, why the hell can’t
musicians from that town spell? Is there a model
glue factory in close proximity? Paint chips in the
water supply? Trapt hail from this
subdued hamlet, as do these wonderful bunch of
prog/art/kitchen sink-rock aficionados,
Dredg. Are they prog? Are they art-rock?
Proto-metallers? They may not have a proper
pigeonhole, but they have one hell of an album in
Catch Without Arms. Kicking off the six-
stringed attack with “Ode To The Sun”, the Bay Area
boys make their audio imprint from the press of the
play button. Guitars shimmer and shine and then
chug and sear in equal measure. Guitar tones evoke
Cocteau Twins jamming with Mars
Volta or Lush paired with Cave-
In’s most recent effort. As the album fires
through hook and effect-laden gems like “Bug
Eyes”, “Not That Simple”, and the album’s title track
(glossing over the only clanger on the album, the
WB/UPN teen drama slop of “Zebraskin”), three
themes remain at the forefront: the amazing guitar
tones of Gavin Hayes and Mark
Engles, the swirling, dynamic percussion of
Dino Campanella, and Hayes’ engaging
vocal delivery, soaring and filled with tremolo.
Producer Terry Date worked some serious
magic on this album, showcasing each sonic
element and providing each with the proper
attention. By
the time the
album wraps up with the U2-esque
“Matroshka”, Dredg have pummeled with guitars,
landed haymaker after haymaker in percussion, and
then wrapped the listener in gauze with Hayes’ ethereal voice.
It’s one of the best ass-kickings your ears will get
all year and one that should be experienced much
sooner than later.

Dredg
Interscope

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