FEBRUARY 2009 ONLINE EDITORIALS

Dualistics - Dualistics EP

By Tim Maddocks

The Denver quartet’s new release is a six-song EP showcasing the band’s current lineup and the result is a solid onslaught of grunge-like, prog-like, spaced-out rock. Dualisitics use ample space and mesh clever guitar work with an impeccable rhythm section to put together a CD that won’t let you get bored.

This disc, while heavy as hell, makes such good use of space to build songs that it’s not at all overbearing. It’s the dynamics that got me. The song “Pure Sorcery” may be the best example. It starts out with just rhythm (bass and drums) and vocals. Then at just the right time, the two guitars come in to sort of rock your head off. Well, it’s nice.

And while the Dualistics have developed a distinguished sound, each song offers a little bit of a different take. Some songs it seems are built around vocals, while others seem to slowly build up to a chorus. All to say that clichéd songwriting is successfully avoided.

It’s worth noting that for a newly released EP they’ve already had notable success, in that the song, “Unique (Like Everybody Else)” has received some air time on the cable television drama, “Mad Men.” So kudos to that, especially since it’s a good song.
Those accolades, though, shouldn’t overshadow the fact that each song on this disc is in itself a new song, not borrowing or ripping off from their own sound. In other words, this effort doesn’t reflect the Dualistics as a one-trick-pony. This new EP is in its entirety something unique – but the nice thing is that it’s not “like everybody else.”