ART OF DYING

Thorny Bleeder / Universal


By: Fridae Mattas


“The Art of Dying is how you live your life, how you embrace it, and what you do with your life while you're here. It’s your life to live, and that's exactly what Art of Dying is doing. -- Jonny Hetherington.”


After the great set at the Kathedral for the CMW showcase, I had to see Art of Dying live again! A few days ago I had my chance, fresh off their tour with Disturbed they decided to make a little stop in the TDOT to shake things up at The Tattoo Rock Parlour. Get ready this review is a double header, a two for one deal! There were different dudes on bass and guitar from when I first saw AOD. Other than the two key players in the band Jonny Hetherington (Vocals) and Greg Bradley (Guitar) they added Cale Gontier of Thornley to rock the Bass, Tavis Stanley to fiddle with the Axe and Jeff Brown (He was at the CMW show) to tear up that snare.





The band has been touring their ass off spreading “The Art of Dying” doing a damn good job too! They first released their self titled debut in the UK October 9th 2006 on Thorny Bleeder Records their own label with licensing by Revolver/Universal. Soon after on February 3rd 2007 they released the record on CD Baby in the US, later in the year the band managed to grab a distribution deal with Conveyor/Universal Music Canada and had dropped the LP October 2007 in Canada.



The record is in itself a masterpiece, trust me on this one people, the same feeling I get about this band I got when I first heard Three Days Grace prior to their world domination, I knew they were going to be huge, Art Of Dying is next guaranteed!!! Especially after their new track “Die Trying” hits the airwaves, the track features Seether front man Shaun Morgan who became buds with the larries during the 2006 UK tour. The band performed the new track in their set last Thursday at the Tattoo and I must say the tune is sick! You can see and hear it yourself the link to the whole set is at the end of the article, too bad the tune is not on the album!



The track that caused the buzz for the band was “Get Through This” written by Jonny for his father when he first discovered his father was diagnosed with Cancer. As of May 5th 2008 Jonny’s father is two years Cancer free! Congrats to him for fighting and surviving anything is possible as long as you have the perseverance to overcome! “Get Through This” is a melodic rocking tune you can listen to anywhere. It is the only track that does have ‘Nickelitis’ as I listen to the LP over and over the rest of the album is conspicuously “ART OF DYING” no need to dub them Nickelback-abees, AOD rocks harder! No Lies!



A piece of the lyrics ‘If I can get through this / I can get through that / If you cut me wide open I can cut you some slack / If you come when I’m leaving I might never be back.” watching the band perform the track live, all similarities to Nickelback dissipate, AOD’s sound is leaning more towards old school Finger Eleven dropping into Three Days Grace with a tiny touch of Nirvana but that is only a reference of similar sound they are entirely their own entity. Hetheringtons’ vocals have edge and grit with a nice tone and full sound. The music is swift and hard with clear precision during the tempo transitions. The tune has a catchy melody with sing-a-long lyrics that have substance, perfect formulation of the idea definitely in the right direction. The music fits the lyrics like a glove; guitars are electric and the percussion pounding!!



A tune I am obsessed with is “You Don’t Know Me” it’s refreshing to hear originality, the vocal arrangements are unique, placed with a great sense of strategy working well with the creativity that comes from music, passion, the love of the art delivered with true conviction. What is very distinct is every track on the album has its own personality and is infectious from the music to the lyrics “You Don’t Know Me” is one of them “Hate is a river flowing with money and greed / Drawing borders / Lines on a map we don’t need.” It has been a while since I have heard a debut album by an Indie band that is extremely well done, a record where almost every track could be a hit single. Very rare indeed, hats off to these larries, super props to the producer Darryl Rhompf (Trapt, Chevelle) for the quality of the production and the mixers Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Aerosmith) and Dean Maher (Slayer, Bryan Adams, Trapt) did an amazing job. The music does not drown out the vocals Hetherington knows his talents believes in his own art continually conveying the plethora of inventiveness and profundity his lyrics transmit, his talents do not own him he owns his talents.



A few more tunes off the album to listen to are “Inside It’s Raining” another tune obsession of mine I am telling you this band is insane!! Before I jibber about the other tunes this tune must be addressed! It’s one of those tracks that has a connection, a catchy melody and heartfelt lyrics, as do all the tracks on the LP, it’s one of the reasons why I am loving the album. This band is for real, compiling genuine feelings and situations life throws at you, subversive some but they are only being themselves no one else. The harmonies are complimentary and present; many bands make the biggest mistake of not having backup vocals. This trend is more common in bands with weaker lead vocalists unable to carry the band fading into the music, those bands don’t make it far. A little peak at the lyrics “I’m scared to look down / I’ve never been so high / And I can’t look up with a closing mind / I’m scared to be touched / I don’t like the feel / It’s way too close, way too real.” The music reaches its forte with the lyrics after the bridge near the end perfectly; I wouldn’t change a thing on this tune or on the whole LP for that matter!



The Art of Dying record is worth buying, thoroughly enjoyable to the ears. A few other of my tune obsessions are “Build A Wall”, “Crime”, “Completely” and “Dog Is My Copilot”. Don’t be fooled by the intros to a few tracks, you need to listen to each tune from beginning to end no skipping! For those that like the softer tunes listen to “Fits of Clarity” and “I Will Be There” power rock ballads for sure.

So glad I saw AOD live again they are so worth my time, the only thing off about the set had nothing to do with the band, the guitars were louder than the lead vox mic, a possible miscalculation of venue size for the sound dude depending on if he was in house or belonged to the bands crew. Eventually the levels were evened out and Jonny pulled it off as if nothing was wrong. I was impressed they didn't even have a sound check yet still tore the tattoo shop a part.



They kicked off the set with ‘Crime’ and kept rocking; I was excited when they played “You Don’t Know Me” and “Inside It’s Raining”!! Usually bands never play the songs I like but Art of Dying got bonus points for the set list picking majority of my favorites. Jonny’s vocals were pitch perfect not once did he go out of tune singing his heart out. At times guitarist Tavis was a little pitchy when harmonizing with Hetherington and Gontier but killed it on the guitar. I did like when Cale was backing Jonny with Tavis, the contrast of the voices sound cool together I like! Greg on the guitar all I can say is I want him as my guitarist!! Those riffs in the mini solos finger magic; dude has serious skill, keep doing what you do!



Every one of those five larries on stage emoted the passion of the music they were playing with true heart and soul. There was not much over thinking even with the technical difficulties they just kept on going skillfully throwing it down!! Words cannot even describe this bands talent and charisma, truly a gem soon to be the most sought after diamond in the shop! Catch Art of Dying while they are still moderately unknown, rock and roll is still alive but hiding underground for people to find.



Go to the Art of Dying website www.artofdyingmusic.com

To see/hear the set www.youtube.com/fridaetv

A Special Thanks to Melanie Schade for the pictures minus the first!


©FRIDAE2008™