Legend of the Seagullmen – Legend of the Seagullmen
Label: Dine Alone Records
Release Date: February 9, 2018
Whether I consciously realize it or not, when I hear the term super-group my expectations are immediately set high. Perhaps you feel the same way. Fair or not, the term alone insinuates that the band is somehow a level up from your regular, everyday band. Not far off from an image of super-hero musicians deciding to band together and give it a go. Look out crime, and uhm, look out music fans?
Legend of the Seagullmen is such a group, super that is, comprising of some heavy hitters from the world of rock/metal, with Danny Carey (Tool), Brent Hinds (Mastodon), Jimmy Hayward (Pixar Animator and director of Jonah Hex), Pete Griffin (Dethklok, Zappa Plays Zappa), Chris DiGiovanni (*), Tim Dawson (*), and David “The Doctor” Dreyer (*). Dreyer had been toying with the concept of the Seagullmen for a number of years before coming together with this accomplished group of musicians (who are all friends), but it wasn’t until this conglomeration that the concept took such shape.
The album opens with atmospheric sounds which have us present on a boat on the open ocean, with the wind blowing, the wood of the boat creaking, a chiming bell and, of course, seagulls. “We Are the Seagullmen” kicks off the album as an anthemic introduction to the epic tale the listener is about to experience. The album is loaded with various sound effects used to add a cinematic experience to the sonic story being told.
The first single is “Shipswreck” and has a rocking mid-tempo groove underscoring a tale of greed and death. This song has great lead guitar work and Carey’s drumming is both crushing and melodic.
“Curse of the Red Tide” begins with an acoustic guitar melody quickly overshadowed by a dark electric guitar lead creating a foreboding of impending doom. Synth, strings and vocals then enter to tell a dramatic tale of danger. Its not long before the pace of the tune increases with the electric guitars and booming drums taking over.
Legend of the Seagullmen is wrought with epic story-telling, badass attitude and some solid rock songs that embody a nice blend of those that came before. Dreyer termed his vision as a “nautical spaghetti western” and the album this super-group has put together is just that.
*The last three players (DiGiovanni, Dawson and Dreyer) were elusive in internet searches, so I am unsure of any bands they have been in, and all I could find were guitar-tech credits for Dawson.*
