SHORE WORLD /10/01/03/ by CHRIS BARRY
Progressive rock? You've gotta be kidding
Not just another label-trashing, genre-smashing, grind-riffing grassroots golem of epic metalloid mayhem, they've been disgruntled for almost a decade now and owe no allegiance to any cliches'; Disgruntled Postal Workers were originally formed in 1993 in Point Pleasant by three high-school friends, and the band released its first self-titled CD in 1996, a 'nothing fancy' project with basic production which received acclaim in The Aquarian and airplay on radio stations like 95.9, "The Rat".
Some fans describe them as being like Tool meets Marilyn Manson or 'Tool meets Gwar' while others hear them being more akin to prog-rock giants Rush: You may also hear traces of Sublime, Alice in Chains or STP in their sound, and Disgruntled Postal Workers are Casey Ferry, drums {who joined DWP in '97}, John Ardolina, bass guitar, Chris Nickerson, lead guitar and Scott Sunkimat on lead vocals.
Over the past decade they've built a humble but muscular rep at clubs like The Stone Pony, Birch Hill and CBGB's, opening for national acts or headlining at local clubs along the Jersey Shore.
While their new CD 'Wicked' opens the 10 song disc with a quiet, calm-before-the-storm interlude of wind chimes and what we'd have to call night air stirring with a disembodied chill: Suddenly you hear an Iron man-grade riff that sprints into a metal fandango sparking with Metallica-grade lyrical spits at Latshaw lightspeed; you quickly realize these guys have the old ominous overkill thing well in hand, as they propel you into the White Wedding intro and take no prisoners drumming of the Rush-arranged 'Go' without blinking.
Then its more Rush-level balladeering and pop thumping with the metalfunk assertion of 'Vessel', followed by the lurching, wrenching beasty that is the swaying monolith monster riff of 'Grey'; there're no small riffs and few subtleties here, but the Sturm Un Drang dynamic is stronger and more melodically inviting than your typically predictable wanna-bee headbangers.
An A+ production at Long Branch's Shore Fire Studios certainly finetuned the mix here, and an A for Ominous goes to tunes like the metal-funky 'Broken', in a Disturbed-meets-Metallica framework that sends buzzing guitar riffs soaring through the headphones: More deftly evil razory riffing on the Rush-toned, Motorhead vox'd 'Disgruntled', a cockeyed band anthem that just comes for your children and takes 'em far, far away!
While such a release that comes almost 10 years after the Ocean County group's debut says something about the longevity and dedication in this band, as well as their gut-grinding blend of influences that also sees them wielding one of the largest cover repertoires that I can think of. They recently performed at the Fiend Fest at The Stone Pony with The Misfits, The Damned and The Dickies, and they'll be performing again at some local shows on their home turf soon.
Look for them back in on the scene in the coming months, and for more info or if you'd like a copy of their new album 'Wicked', visit www.DisgruntledPostalWorkers.com because hey, the postman always riffs twice….
