Dream Widow
Dream Widow
Roswell Records
![](https://i0.wp.com/spillmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/RATING_4_of_5.jpg?resize=150%2C29&ssl=1)
Following the release of the slasher comedy film, Studio 666, Dave Grohl has released his death metal debut via a project titled Dream Widow. Those who watched Studio 666 will recognize the name as the fictional band which the Foo Fighters assume the role of in the film; however, the record is nearly entirely just Grohl, who performed vocals, guitar, bass, and drums, alongside lead guitarist Jim Rota (Fireball Ministry), and Rami Jaffee (Foo Fighters) and Oliver Roman, both of whom added keys on a handful of tracks.
Opening with the blistering blast-beats of βEncinoβ, Grohl lays out his heaviest and most throat-wrenching vocals to date. The fast-paced, vocal-chord shredder develops organically into a number of moving parts, ranging from melodic to haunting, bringing the song to a close by returning to the initial introduction. βEncinoβ, while only a minute and a half in length, covers more ground than more artists could in twice as much time, allowing Grohl to flex his songwriting in a different genre. One thing is clear, Dream Widow is not a Foo Fighters record, as a matter of fact, itβs unlike anything else youβve heard from Grohl.
The following track, βColdβ, while dropping the tempo, is no less heavy as Grohl delivers a stellar vocal performance that is equally melodic as it is aggressive with dissonant harmonies and the occasional scream to accent his take. Between βColdβ and βEncinoβ, Dream Widow is a record that teeters between death, black, thrash, and groove metal in a seamless fashion. In addition to the opening two tracks, which are among the strongest offerings on Dream Widow, additional highlights include the thrash heavy lead single, βMarch Of The Insaneβ, the hard hitting βCome All Ye Unfaithfulβ, the sludgy doom metal of βBecomingβ, and the massive, 10-min epic, βLacrimus dei Ebriusβ, an instrumental tour de force that brings Dream Widow to a stellar conclusion.
For years, I have wanted a metal record from Grohl. As much as I love the Foos, theyβve only teased a far heavier side through the occasional song (βWhite Limoβ, βRunβ), and itβs no surprise, given his hardcore roots, that Grohl would kill it, if only he had made a metal record. In response to this idea, Dream Widow serves as a strong addition to Grohlβs expansive catalogue as his heaviest record to date. While it may not be a flawless metal record, Grohlβs latest musical experiment is an absolutely visceral success that, ultimately, continues to establish Grohl as one of the most vital and essential creative forces in the history of popular music.
Artist Links
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DREAM WIDOW – DREAM WIDOW
Gerrod Harris