Dead Reptile Shrine- Burning Black Infinity

Easily my favorite band of the last few months, DRS is theoretically a black metal band, though I would guess that their ties to the larger black metal milieu are tenuous at best.  Most often they come off sounding like a group of well meaning teenage headbangers who haven't really mastered their instruments yet...terrible off time drumming, unbelievable out of tune riffing, and vocals often so ridiculously shrill and out of key they may actually cause you to spew anything you may be drinking across the room....kinda like a black metal version of the Shaggs or something.  Other times they sound like a very evil folk group.  The vocals are almost always unbearable.   However, like the Shaggs, there is no ironic joke to be in on; the music is real and has real effort and real heart behind it...it just misses the mark by about a mile.

Personally, I love them for reasons that have nothing to do with how 'silly' they are; while I can appreciate that aspect of it to a degree, what really grabs me about this band is the totally un-phased and confident attitude they obviously have regarding their music.  At this point they must have realized that their records are extremely, shall we say, 'unique' in the world of black metal, and surely they are aware of having been labeled as 'outsider metal', 'damaged', and even 'retarded' by some reviewers...yet they continue on, expressing themselves the only way they know how; a pure manifestation of misanthropic teenage ineptness.  What could be more beautiful?

The thing is though, is that this is their fourth full length album in ten years, which means they can't be teenagers; also I keep saying they but it's actually just one guy up in Finland somewhere recording this stuff presumably on his 4-track at home alone.  Right now he's probably in his room, drinkin' orange soda, worshiping Satan, eating beans outta the can, watching sitcom re-runs, maybe casting some spells...maybe droppin' some laundry off with Mom....

anyways, I think I can sum up the appeal of Dead Reptile Shrine by pointing out what they have in common with a group like Pussy Galore or even Three 6 Mafia, and that is the ability to approach extremely absurd premises with extreme seriousness of demeanor.  If there were anything at all intentionally tongue in cheek about this band, I would be quite surprised.  This guys feels it, like hard and it really comes through.  I have no doubt that he is truly as passionate as anyone possibly could be about Satan and forests, and it may sound silly, but for me, hearing someone express themselves so deeply and truly regarding subjects I tend to consider overused and played out can actually be quite moving.

It's also worth noting that despite my rambling on about how unmusical they are, on their last record, A Journey Through the Darkest of Forests, DRS started to pepper their terrain with a bit more technique.  This album as well shows advancement.  The boneheaded jams are still plenty in number, but the killer track on this one has gotta be Skull Crushing Avenger.  Featuring multi-panned swirling background solos, Native American style chanting, and gloom and malice for days, this track shows what DRS is truly capable of.  I suggest you start paying attention.

Currently available as a gorgeous gatefold DBL LP here.