HERETICS

DREAM THE ELECTRIC SLEEP are a band out of the state of Kentucky. Man I haven't been through that state since I was a kid. Anyway, the album clocks in at well over 70 minutes and features modern sounding vocals both of which are a negative for me. Still, over time I have grown to really appreciate this album. Even after my first listen it was clear that this was a talented band with some incredible songs. The music is quite heavy at times, I really dig the rhythm section but we get a lot of variety as well.

"Heritics" is an instrumental that has an excellent heavy sound to it. I like the vocal melodies later on as well. "Elizabeth" isn't as heavy and we get vocals before a minute. Nice chunky bass and it kicks into a higher gear before 2 minutes but contrasts will continue. A calm before 4 minutes with reserved vocals before it kicks back in. A cool PORCUPINE TREE-like atmospheric section ends it. "Utopic" is a top three song for me. Beautiful acoustic guitar to start but bass, drums and more arrive quickly as it builds. Vocals follow and the song settles each time for the chorus which is gorgeous. Nice guitar solo after 5 minutes. "To Love Is To Leave" is ballad-like with reserved vocals to start but it turns fuller with heavy bass lines before 1 1/2 minutes and these contrasts will continue. A tasteful guitar solo 3 1/2 minutes in. It turns intense after 5 minutes. So good! A calm ends it. "The Name You Fear" is catchy and heavy with some cool vocal melodies. The bass is huge. Nice guitar solo after 4 minutes and later on as well. Check out the drum work as well. "It Must Taste Good" opens with faint guitar experssions as a melodic picked guitar arrives but both are drowned out by heaviness. Sounds like an early nineties Alternative song to be honest. I like the vocal melodies too. Themes are repeated.

"I Know What You Are" features acoustic guitars before drums, vocals and more take over in a dramatic way. Atmosphere only as it calms down to a whisper then almost spoken vocals arrive. It turns loud before 4 1/2 minutes and this majestic section will stay to the end. "Fist To Face" is another top three for me. Love the guitar melodies that are featured throughout. A full sound kicks in quickly. Vocal melodies late. Great tune. "Lost Our Faith" is a short tune with what sounds like two acoustic guitars and reserved vocals before it turns heavier around 1 1/2 minutes in. "How Long We Wait" has this feel good guitar line to start, it turns fuller quickly. This is uptempo as the vocals join in. It settles back 2 1/2 minutes in then turns even quieter at 3 minutes. It's building as the guitar lights it up. Another calm before 4 1/2 minutes before it builds again. "Ashes Fall" is my other top three. What a way to end this record. I like the menacing guitar and heavy duty sound here. The vocal melodies are cool, they really use them to great affect on this album. Vocals before a minute and these guys are kicking ass. A calm at 4 minutes with lots of atmosphere. Sampled voices can be heard then the vocals return before 5 minutes. There's a great PORCUPINE TREE-like instrumental section after 6 minutes then those sampled voices are back to end it.

Just an excellent effort from these boys who live where the grass is blue and horses rule the sports world.