DAMN THE MACHINE

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Historical CD for Chris Poland and Prog Metal Librarians

I really like Chris Poland. His work on Megadeth's Peace Sells is superb, IMO tastier than anything shredder Marty Friedman did with the band. Damn the Machine was a project Poland created after his departure from Megadeth, along with his brother Mark on drums, Dave Clemmons on vocals and guitars, and David Randi on bass. The single CD they produced sounds very much like Dream Theater with more jazz, less shredding, and less complex rhythms. Clemmons sounds very much like Labrie with the cheese turned down a bit.

From today's perspective, this disc seems like yet another DT clone. In fact, it is more likely the band influenced DT than the other way around, as DtM opened for DT during the Images and Words tour. The albums came out the same year and Poland was much more experienced on the big stage than any of the members of DT at that point. DT's subsequent album incorporates heavier elements and the riffs definitely have moved in the direction of Poland's, with more open space and syncopation.

There are some great musical ideas on this disc. "On with the Dream" and "Russians" have some interesting clean guitar ideas, showing Poland's jazz influence which he will later pursue to great effect in the trio Ohm:. The riffing is good, fairly typical of prog metal in general, and the lyrics are intelligently political. The guitars sound great, one each hard left and hard right. In metal style, they play in unison for a "big stereo" sound during much of the riffing, but then split to complement each other. Poland's soloing is tasty and frankly quite restrained. To really experience his monster talent, the first Ohm: album is a better starting place.

The biggest problem with the album is lack of memorable melodies and a little too much polish. This is rock and it doesn't seem very risky. I keep waiting for a truly great song to champion the album, and it never comes. (On with the Dream comes closest.) While DT is often criticized for being over-the-top, it is exactly those extreme elements that have kept them alive, and why they (deservedly) emerged while this band (with at least equal talent) dissolved. Poland went on to jazz-fusion which suits his playing better than any of his metal projects, and DT went on to lead metal through the dark days of the mid 90's through its resurgence now.

This is a 2.5 album, which I'll round up out of respect for Poland. Solid prog metal from the early days.

The performance that Chris Poland had left for the album of Megadeth was indeed splendid. It was a request of Gar Samuelson of the drum player of Megadeth at that time that Chris Poland originally participated in Megadeth. However, Megadeth has been mutually dismissed as a result as for Gar and Chris.

Chris Poland from which the band is dismissed announces "Return To Metalopolis" of Solo Album in 1990. It is a well-known fact that Chris Poland and above-mentioned Gar Samuelson were well versed in Jazz/Fusion. The performance that Chris Poland had done in the album of Megadeth might have worked with an original idea and the theory that other guitarists had not already done. There might at least have been exactly an element of Jazz/Fusion in the root of Chris Poland.

This band was formed to 1991 at time when Hard Rock/Heavy Metal had joined the mainstream exactly. Drum player's Mark Poland is younger brother of Chris. It is said that Mark Poland listens to musicians such as Lenny White and Bill Bruford well and was influenced. It is said that Bass player's David Randi is an introduction of David Ellefson of Megadeth at that time. It might be a point that Chris Poland should make a special mention of Megadeth and the fact with such an exchange after the keep away from. And, Dave Clemmons of Vocal was a member who had been elected by the audition. The member is talking that the song of Dave Clemmons elected from a lot of demo tapes was suitable for the band.

And, Brian Malouf has been appointed by the producer. Brian Malouf is a person known on business of Pearl Jam and Queen, etc.And, all the techniques of a live recording have been appointed for the recording of this album. The point to make to the debut album of the band and to have taken the recording by live might show that it had good work by production, the technology of the band, and the ability very. Complex development of rhythm in close relation to elements of Heavy Metal such as "The Mission" and "Fall Of Order" and processing of composition. Solo of the guitar might be indeed unique. "Honor" will be reminiscent of the element of Metallica. And, the development of a glossy guitar to a heavy flow in "Lonesome God" and a complex rhythm might be also splendid. "Patriot" aims at and development where fast and slow overflows and an active melody aim at the differentiation with the music of other bands. They can splendidly perform the part of the ballade of "Silence". Especially, Solo of the guitar of Chris Poland is performed in the shape that a moving part and a technical part unify. It is a tune with development that the development of "Russians" is exactly reminiscent of initial Megadeth, too. "Humans" to which the rhythm of the shuffle is taken is indeed cool.

This band might have never become the main current of Heavy Metal and Thrash Metal. However, their technology and originality might be the parts that do not exist in other bands. It might be very regrettable that their works ended only with this album.