The Drood – The Book Of Drood
The Drood – The Book Of Drood – Album Review
I think it’d be more than fair to put The Drood on a list of the more exciting projects & bands that have emerged over the past several years. I mean, let’s be real here – they’re not remotely afraid of doing things differently – and that’s one of my favorite things about’em! While proudly embracing the strange can tend to see progress build much more slowly, brick by brick, piece by piece, fan by fan, you end up creating a solid legacy that you can be proud of, and know will continue to stand long after any of us are.
After being introduced to their music through a song called “Psychic Institute” back in the middle of 2022, and learning more about their sound through tracks like “It Must Needs Wither” and “Hallow” nearly a year later…I feel like it’s completely safe to say I’ll always be willing to listen to whatever it is these wild musical minds would come up with next. As the rumble of their lead-single “Static Time” came shaking outta my speakers to start up The Book Of Drood, I had to crack a smile as I listened and felt that instant hit of authenticity & creativity combined turn into the dopamine that fuels my soul. “Static Time” goes from what you could only describe as a fairly decent ethereal rumble at the start to all-out enormity by the time it’s all over, and quickly confirms that The Book Of Drood has got serious substance you’ll wanna dig right into. Listen to the layers of sound at work here will ya? You gotta hand it to these guys y’all…not only do they play a starring role in what you’ll hear, they play a vital role in how you’re hearing it too. As in, yes, it’s the band you love performing these incredible songs and bringing these ideas to life, but it’s also two of their three members making sure the mix is as exquisite as it is too. They’re here to see their visions to fruition, from start to finish, exactly as they intended them to come out…and when you hear “Static Time” threaten to OPEN UP THE GROUND BENEATH YOUR FEET, you’ll genuinely be amazed & impressed by what they can collectively accomplish. To say this opening cut is massive would be an extraordinary understatement – it’s a whole chasm of sound. Paired with the brilliant sound of Nathan Jamiel’s angels-meet-demons-esque vocals…it’s the stunning cracks of light in the darkness, the sweetness of melody through the low-end driven sound, the relief of acceptance in the lyricism after carrying the supreme weight of burden…for real y’all – this is art, 100%.
And I’m not gonna lie to ya…I hear a song as impressive as “Static Time” and as wowed as I am by it, my first thought in the context of a record is, ‘FUCK – how are they gonna live up to that?’ It would be an exercise in futility for most bands in this situation…but I’ll fully admit, most bands are NOT The Drood. So while the most you’ll find me conceding to you is that “An Exercise In Simplicity” is not “Static Time” – I think they’re also aware that such superhuman awesomeness would never be possible to replicate time after time after time. Instead, they wisely switch things up, start bending pitch and warping the space around you as “An Exercise In Simplicity” works its magic on ya in a whole different direction. It’s one of the smartest moves they could have made to almost do a complete 180 degree turn, but what makes this second cut as stellar as it is, is that SOMEHOW, it’s also one of the most seamless transitions you’ll find in The Book Of Drood. From the beat-driven smoothness supplied by drummer Daniel Watts, to the gripping tones of Hayden Peltier’s bass, and the groovy way that Nathan chimes in with that extra layer of guitar or synth sounds…good gravyboat lighthouse y’all – I’m nothing but amazed by this! Topping it all off once again, I think you gotta admire how much Jamiel’s vocals can be the cherry on top – The Drood were already on their way to victory in a very Portishead-esque type of vibe, but hearing how Nathan sings in such a stylistic, Yorke-type of way on this second tune…I mean…we’re talking about shifting sound from beyond good to undeniable greatness, straight up. “An Exercise In Simplicity” is borderline ridiculous in terms of how addictive it’ll become in a mere couple of spins – and take it from a guy that’s been spinning this album for the last ten days or more…I truly cannot get enough of this song.
There is absolutely astounding definition in their music. I had a moment here and there where I would wonder if they had the bass up a bit too high in the mix of a song like “Flanks Of Hubris” – but I had just as many that believed it was in the perfect spot too. It really comes down to this…The Drood give you so many freakin’ great reasons to listen, that you’ll basically want everything to play the starring role at all times – and logically, we know that couldn’t possibly ever be the case. Even if it WAS possible in the mix of any given tune, our ears still naturally separate what they hear and go with what piques their interest or curiosity. So heck yeah, Peltier’s bass will take its rightful turn as the most engaging aspect of “Flanks Of Hubris” – but the same can also be said of the drifting atmosphere in this song, the outstanding lyrics, the ethereal voice of Jamiel, and steady beat of Watts as well. As to whether you can claim that’ll all happen on the inside of a single listening experience…there could be some debate around that I suppose – but as you continue to spin this song, you’ll notice things like the crucial contributions Nathan’s guitar makes, or how the synths play a vital role in chiming in when they do. “Shifting transiently” would have been an equally great name for this song, simply due to the fact that it accurately pinpoints the way this track reveals its sound to us…we get these separate flashes of awesomeness that stack up together and combine to create this powerfully moving moment in time that morphs itself brilliantly along the way.
The way this music can hang in the air around you as it emanates from your speakers is nothing short of award-worthy if you ask me – listen to “Determinism” if you require proof of what I’m talking about. It’s built of sound that’s like a nightmarish mobile hanging above the crib that carries Rosemary’s Baby. It’s like a Jack In The Box on its last weakened and weary spin. It’s like a nursery rhyme for the damned. It’s all of these things and more, I assure you…it’s one of the most haunting and hypnotic moments you’ll find on The Book Of Drood, and quite likely to become one of the album’s real unsung heroes. It’s not as gigantic as “Static Time,” it doesn’t possess the alternative jazziness that “An Exercise In Simplicity” has, it’s not the gripping groove of “Flanks Of Hubris” right beforehand – no…”Determinism” is its own unique animal…a darkly poetic track that seems to drip out of your speakers with malevolent intentions. “You have no choice consuming this noise” is yet another double-meaning you’ll find on this album that clearly relates to the rest of the lyricism you’ll find, but also serves as another prescient comment on how engaged our ears will be in listening to a song such as this. It’s totally fair to say that this has been a completely fascinating & engaging record to this point so far already…but the way that “Determinism” ends up putting you right on the edge of your seat to listen even closer somehow, is no small achievement either. It could be the additional guest appearance of Randall Frazier, aka Orbit Service, that brings this nearly spoken-word track to a whole new level…he definitely proves to be an asset on this tune, that much I can confirm with certainty. I’d listen to The Drood read the phonebook, happily. I might need a shower afterwards to try and wash off the murk, but I’d still happily listen all the same.
Like…damn! By the time I got to “Leave The Lights On,” I felt pretty convinced this could very well be the most career-defining record of The Drood’s career. Hard to say for sure of course…I think this Denver, Colorado-based band has been around for nearly a decade at this point? They’ve always been good, and they’ve still got a long way to go I’m sure…but you can’t help but acknowledge greatness when you hear it, and The Book Of Drood is stocked and loaded with that. “Leave The Lights On” is destined to be a universal favorite, I can pretty much guarantee that. Whereas the dank-ass sound of a track like “Determinism” is always going to get my attention, a song like “Leave The Lights On” is going to get ALL of our attention, you feel me? I still stand by them making a great choice with “Static Time” as the lead-single…but I feel like “Leave The Lights On” stands an even greater chance of making an impact on the listeners out there via its mellower means. This cut is gonna drift its dreamy vibe straight to the top of many playlists out there and quite frankly don’t need a single word of what I’d have to say to sell it to ya…but suffice it to say, this is a monumental moment on the record, and an authentically irresistible tune by every conceivable definition. Bonus points go to Daniel on this tune…while everyone else in The Drood laidback to take it easy for a moment, Watts elected to stay twice as busy. It ends up giving “Leave The Lights On” this incredible intensity to go with its stunning fluidity and dreamy sound. Essentially, it’s more complex than any of us would ever realize, and that in itself is a true achievement.
“Flags” is the album’s largest cut length-wise, weighing in a just a bit less than eight minutes in total. I think it’s completely safe to say that if you’ve been enjoying yourself to this point on the record, that you’ll have no issues continuing into the depths of its second half, but I’d also cite “Flags” as being one of the other tough spots in transition that could have possibly tripped them up. To be clear, I think that anyone listening to The Book Of Drood will sail right into this track as well – all I’m saying is that when they shift gears and vibes like they did between “Static Time” and “An Exercise In Simplicity,” or here later on between “Leave The Lights On” and “Flags,” these are the spots along the way that tend to challenge listeners a bit more. But c’mon y’all…if you make it to the 3:25 mark of “Flags” and can’t feel the energy surging through this dark corner of creativity…I mean…try listening with your good ear instead! Alright, alright…look…”Flags” IS more of a commitment on the listening end to a degree – BUT – I’m just as ready to proclaim that it could be THE track of ALL tracks for a great many of you out there too. If you dig your tunes a bit more (okay, a lot more) on the abstract side of sound, then “Flags” is about to supply a smorgasbord of stellar sound selection and audible awesomeness to your speakers. Turn this UP! The whole band plays this cut with an unbreakable amount of unity and artistic vision – and going back to my original point at the start of this review, a track like “Flags” speaks volumes on behalf of The Drood being so willing to do things so differently than the rest of what’s out there right now. This single song could have made for an entire EP…and lord help us all if they decide to go and make a video for this one…they could get downright cinematic with “Flags” and make a mini-movie out of what you hear. So if you’re a director looking for the soundtrack to your next short film…hit’em up!
To be completely honest with ya, I think that even though there’s a massive difference between the style of sound & level of accessibility in cuts like “Leave The Lights On” and “Flags” – it could actually be “To Fetch A Hefty Jeff” that might end up being the biggest ask of listening ears. After enduring the wild creativity of “Flags” for nearly eight minutes, it’s safe to bet that many listeners will be looking for a bit of a life-raft to hang onto afterwards, and I’m not so sure they’ll find that in “To Fetch A Hefty Jeff,” which attempts to take us all even further into the unknown of a more abstract terrain. It does have the significant advantage of having the most kickass title in the entire set, but I reckon that doesn’t usually come to a song’s rescue in the grand scheme of things. In any event, I maintain, if you’ve been fully enjoying this lineup of tracks to this point, you’ll certainly continue to. If you were somehow struggling, then the back-to-back pairing of “Flags” and “To Fetch A Hefty Jeff” will probably put you into your own existential crisis and have you wondering how you got here. Personally, I’m still all about what I hear on this tune – I can reveal that and still acknowledge that it’s gonna be a bit tougher for some, because I’m constantly objective about what I listen to and how it’ll be heard. Where I think “To Fetch A Hefty Jeff” has a bit of an ace up its sleeve, is that it might very well remind some listeners of the more melodically-infused moments from bands like The Deftones or the other various Chino Moreno-led projects from Team Sleep to Crosses…and that’s a comparison that could be seriously enticing to many potential listeners out there. Basically, this song is as bold as it is dreamy, and as creative as it is entertaining – it’s another glimpse at how The Drood doesn’t just create music, they make ART that lives and breathes.
Listen to the way “Lunch Break” kicks into gear around the twenty-five second mark will ya? Spectacular! For as different as The Drood are, when you grasp onto any kind of remote comparison, it seems like a good idea to point it out – like, “Lunch Break” to me, ain’t too far removed from some kind of wild combination of Radiohead and Pink Floyd together. You get the atmospheric curiosities and robust bass-lines of a PF, with the ethereal vocals & complex melodies of a Radiohead, while also getting this whole like…visionary uniqueness that The Drood are proudly able to call their own at the same time – and it’s truly something to behold y’all! I think they’ve got their tracks that have more noticeably universal degrees of accessibility like “An Exercise In Simplicity,” “Static Time,” and “Leave The Lights On” – but they’ve also got tracks like “Lunch Break” that hover just below that too. I could completely see people getting into this song after a spin or two, and I’d understand them even more if they felt like they needed to somehow hook themselves up to “Lunch Break” intravenously after a few more! This would be up there with the other tracks I feel like could potentially be the real unsung heroes of an album like this one…there’s so much extraordinary material on The Book Of Drood that it’s almost like a cut like “Lunch Break” could be passed over for a couple rotations through the record before people cue into how sensational it really is. The dynamic depth and attention to detail in a track like “Lunch Break” is freakin’ staggering if you ask me dear readers, dear friends…and to me, it’s cuts like this that might not be the first you’ll latch onto, that end up becoming the key factors in what continually brings you back for another listen. You’ll always find something new to discover in the songs of an album like The Book Of Drood, and there’s a great chance that months down the road, your original favorite songs will shift to entirely different cuts from the record, because this band will actually shift your sonic palette. That’s the thing about crossover sound y’all…it has the power to bring people in from the outside of the fringe, and the right combination of ideas to give listeners the courage to try something they might not normal experience. It’s bands like The Drood that have the ability to actually help assist our evolution.
Dig that DRAMA yo! “Make Up” instantly carries a powerful weight to it, and exercises The Drood’s gift at roaming seamlessly between crystal clarity and a kaleidoscopic collage of sound. No surprise to find a record of this magnitude ending on one last highlight for its finale…there hasn’t been an ounce of The Book Of Drood that I haven’t enjoyed to the fullest, and though it’s still early in 2024, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find this album on our top ten list at the end of the year. It’d take a boatload of phenomenal tunes to knock it off the pedestal I’ve got this on right now…and while I’ve got tremendous faith in the independent scene creating some seriously great stuff…I’m tellin’ ya – what The Drood has got here in this album is something significantly special. I’d understand if you’re like, you know, a top-40 type of listener that mainly enjoys something you can sing along to resisting The Book Of Drood and songs like “Make Up” I guess…but if you feel like you’re the kind of person looking for more than the radio would ever have to offer ya, I’m declaring this record to be exactly what you’re hoping for & more. In my personal opinion, I’d have “Make Up” right up there with my favorite tracks on this album, and I feel like this outstanding last cut made for the perfect ending to what’s been an undeniably incredible ride. The Book Of Drood is full proof that The Drood is completely in the prime of their career right in the here & now…and though they’ll quite likely go on to do MORE extraordinary things over the years to follow, I feel like this record will go down as one of their most significant and compelling milestones & contributions to their catalog when they’re looking back at it. It’s a record so well written & executed that I can guarantee you it’s gonna stay fresh for as long as you listen to it…these songs will hold up strong over time, I can promise you that – make some space at the top of your playlists for The Drood.
Find out more about The Drood at their official website at: https://thedrood.com
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