ARTIST: Death House Chaplain
TITLE: Of Asthma
LABEL: Lujo
GENRE: Indie
BITRATE: 209kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 31m total
RELEASE DATE: 2008-03-00
RIP DATE: 2008-02-21
Track List
----------
1. Capture The Flag 3:40
2. Flipside 4:02
3. Soak It Up 2:59
4. Know By Now 2:44
5. Susan 2:20
6. Cameras 1:39
7. Find The Seven 3:07
8. Where Do We Go From Here? 3:02
9. Until No Carp 3:18
10. White Noise 4:37
Release Notes:
If two is company then Death House Chaplain is a crowd.
The three piece hails from Los Angeles, but if youÆre thinking
butt-tight-leather-pant-wearing glam rock, think again. This is not glam, itÆs
not metal, heckùitÆs not even retro. ItÆs entirely original, and if you insist
on a visual, think dirty. Dirty like you rolled out of bed without a shower or a
shave, put on some dusty boots, whipped out an electric guitar and straight
riffed on that thing all the live-long day.
Death House emerged in 2002 in the creative mind of Matthew Holl--a somewhat
unassuming character who gets down on the guitar like few people youÆve ever
seen or heard. He had formally fronted LA rock band, Robot. When that project
disbanded he set his mind on creating a band with more of a raw, angular sound,
and some serious-meets-tongue-in-cheek lyrics to match. Holl asserted this band
be a three piece to help with the raw sound and to give space to the music. He
solicited the help of two friends and the three determined to write a record.
Drive Through Disaster Relief was what resulted from their efforts. The
self-released debut record was written in the wake of the September 11th
tragedy. When writing the record, Holl struggled to create music that would make
sense out of what he saw to be a completely senseless world. Without the
answers, he wrote songs stream-of-consciousness. His aim wasnÆt to save the
world or even make you feel good. Holl wanted to simply convey the message of
ômy head's a mess, I'm usually not OK, and if you feel this way too it's
perfectly normal.ö
Soon after the full length, the band was offered a development deal with Sony
Records. They put a small demo together, but no record deal actualized. Shortly
thereafter, the other two members left the band. But this wasnÆt R.I.P for Death
House.
Over chicken and chips at El Pollo Loco one night, friend, fan, and soon to be
drummer, Ben Heywood, convinced Holl to keep going as DHC, and offered his
services as a drummer. Heywood then brought in long time friend, Loop Haro, to
play the bass and just like that--the band was off and running again.
The new threesome got down to business, booking shows and perfecting their
powerful and aggressive guitar-rock sound. Comparisons to Television, The Cure,
The Who, US Maple, The Minute Men, and a plethora of others are not uncommon,
but are few and far between because the band really doesnÆt sound like anything
else out there. HollÆs voice is edgy and unrefined a la Isaac Brock sans lisp
and all the anger. Guitar work is driving and off-beat, but somehow maintains
its pop sensibilities. Drum beats are unexpected in a way that makes the music
entirely interesting. Because of the unrestrained sound, the bass lines really
stand out in the mix. In fact, youÆve never heard bass like this.
At the end of the day, Death House Chaplain is a band that believes there is
still hope for this worldùthat the future is a canvas we all help to paint. This
is not music for the faint of heart, this is music that questions, challenges,
and might even aggravate.
Upcoming full length, Of Asthma, will be out on Lujo Records in March of 2008.
Screw company, get into this crowd.
http://www.myspace.com/deathhousechaplainrock