Dead Original - Bought And Sold

Chicago rock trio Dead Original's debut album is now available to stream pretty much everywhere. Having built up hype for Bought And Sold for some time with a series of singles throughout the last couple of years, it comes as a relief to Dead Original's longterm fanbase to hear this long-awaited full-length. A healthy, fully fleshed out track listing feels very rewarding after all this time.  

Fronted by Paul Wandtke, former touring drummer for Trivium and also of Rock of Ages and Bedlem, one can hear the obvious influence of grunge on the band's sound from the off. My first interactions with Paul were as a Trivium fan, as the Florida metallers made their way around the UK on a 2016 headline tour. Knowing that Paul also performed in the Smells Like Nirvana tribute act, we had a chat about our shared love of the grunge legends in a dingy pub in York, with Nirvana being my favourite band throughout my teenage years. Although his Trivium gig was ultimately not meant to be, it's rewarding to hear Wandtke come up with some original (or Dead Original, you might say) tunes that pay tribute to a fantastic era of music. Dead Original are far from a simple throwback, though; although their sound is familiar, it is their own.

Kicking off with a quirky, low-tuned riff that could be out of the Soundgarden catalogue, 'Move' has many of Dead Original's signature elements. Although the riffs appear simple on the surface, the clever off-time feel demonstrates the band's musical intelligence and ability to do a lot with a little. Wandtke's vocals come straight from the Kurt Cobain playbook, although not in the typical way that many post-grunge imitators would be derided for as the 90s faded into memory. An intuitive ear for melody and harmony and an element of Layne Staley gives for a powerful vocal performance across the whole of Bought And Sold. Many of the choruses are written to stay in your head like glue, even long after the record grinds to a halt. Dead Original know how to craft the sorts of memorable hooks that drive rock albums like Bought And Sold and this ultimately will keep the listener coming back.

With thirteen songs, Dead Original make sure to include plenty of variation - such as the melodic main riff in 'Hard to See', the euphoric punk energy in 'My Friends', the irresistible grooves in 'Restrained' or even the somewhat Sabbathy 'Circles' at the album's close. 'Fade to Light' and the title track, both pre-release singles, almost seem to reference nu metal, giving Dead Original yet another dimension. The title track and 'Blasted' straight after it are two of my personal highlights for Bought And Sold. The melodies and subtle vocal harmonies are simply too good, and bring an infectious Alice in Chains-style vibe with them. Most impressive of all is how Dead Original bring so many songs to the table, with hardly any filler. Each track has its own identity, and although a progressive influence is hinted at with the riffing and rhythmic style, the songs are all songs in the classic sense - with the vast majority sitting between two and a half and four minutes, and passion, power and songwriting taking the driver's seat.

Bought And Sold is a fantastic effort from the trio; fans of classic grunge bands will be at home here, but there is also something for those that enjoy the likes of Tool and Korn, too. Passionate and emotional, most rock lovers will find something to relate to here. It's very '90s' of course, but limitations can breed creativity and Dead Original take this classic formula and turn it into something special over Bought And Sold.

Favourite tracks: Blasted, My Friends, Bought And Sold

For fans of Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, 90s rock music

MN