Review: Dino Bravo's s/t/d
When I was first told about Dino Bravo ("they're a wrestling band"), I was tempted to ignore them. You see, for reasons I won't go into in this review, I fucking hate wrestling. A duo consisting of Ivan Catron on bass and Jake Mott on drums, the group formed earlier this year, playing their first live shows — known to feature costumes, referees and piledrivers — early this summer. I initally assigned them mental side-project status (both members also play in Bad Catman, and Mott sings for the Diamond Stretch), but upon hearing s/t/d it's clear that these guys are for real.
The EP kicks off with two shorter tracks ("Kevin Nash vs. the Definition of Adjective" and "24/7 Hardcore Title Defense") that seem designed as more of a primer, both sticking to spastic hardcore via Lightning Bolt riffs and thrashy rhythms. Their strength here is in the songs' brevity — add a third and things would start getting repetitive. Thankfully, there are ample change-ups in the EP's fantastic second half.
Each clocking in at around seven minutes, the EP's other two songs make the admission price worth it. "Bruno Sammartino's Title Reigns" is easily the slowest and least chaotic track present, although it still packs a major punch. However, the standout here is "Randy Savage Tribute", a skyscraper of a song that features one of the hugest (and catchiest) riffs I can ever remember hearing (listen below at 4:25). Seriously, this shit puts "Dragonaut" to shame.
It certainly helps that the everything is so well-recorded. There's just enough ambient/live sound to reinforce the impression that these are live takes, and you can nearly imagine being a fly on the wall during tracking. The distortion and throbbing drums are captured in full glory (on my digital copy, at least — can't comment on the tape), all the better for a sludge record.
Ultimately, despite any inborn bias of my own, I'm forced to acknowledge that Dino Bravo have a devotion to wrestling that goes far beyond your average fandom. They wouldn't sound so impassioned and off the rails if they didn't.
s/t/d is available on cassette from the Error Records website and digitally on Bandcamp.
3 comments
you’re dead on, Ben.
the A side is enough to entice (and possibly confuse—pleasantly, though); but the second half of the record is a bone-crunching streamroller of awesome. Killer hooks, palpable energy…bust out your walkman and Ultimate Warrior facepaint (or Wolfpac-era Sting mask, if you like) and get pumped up for the beat down.
john
I saw a video of theirs for a show, hilarious, this kicks ass!
DanaK
The Tag Champs never disappoint live.
Most Recent Music Comments
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
That article almost looks like something out of The Onion
Thanks! I’m looking forward to writing even more….
Yay! Love this! Welcome to the family!
that last photo’s a doozie, Chris. good work.
that city center house show was one of those life-affirming things.
Most Popular Music Articles (60 days)
- 2012 Pygmalion Music Festival initial lineup
- Elsinore, Common Loon impress diverse crowd
- Tonight in Urbana: Ursula K. LeGuin
- Cursive is so cool
- Look closer: Withershins' Silver Cities
- The Overture: April 3–9
- Record Store Day 2012 in review
- A breath of fresh air
- BEST Music
- Cymbals Eat Guitars: Malfunction-free (so far)
Most Recent Comments
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles
And without bloodshed. Sounds like the Savoy trustees aren’t as narrow-minded as some of their whiny pants constituents. Do you think quack Snell is already planning an asinine counterattack or is he still laying low after those “threats” against his person?
hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.
Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Excellent. I am glad sometimes American dreams are encouraged, rather than stifled.
Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.
funny, as your summer begins, another Summer ends.
Facebook
Twitter
Full Site
represent, Matt.