When, in September 2009, the musicians [those being guitarists Martin “Semish” Semjan (also known from Candy Core) and Martin “Ondro” Ondrejicka (also of Core F.S.), bassist Richard “Richie” Potzner (also of Core F.S.) and drummer Marek Matejov (also of Canis Lupus) of the relatively popular Slovakian Metal act Rumburax (now longer existing) joined forces with young singer Tomas Buron, little were they to know that they would soon find a very speciafic and special spot in the history books of Metal.
Before that happened, the band first started off its career recording its debut EP Dopamine at 999th Studio, for which they also secured a guest solo from famous Slovakian guitarist Jimi Cimbala. An EP which is now available for free download from (www.) rust2dust.sh/Media, and which was already an perfect showcase for the mixture of Old school Metal with elements of Crossover, Metalcore and Nu-Metal around which the band would write further material. That same year, the guys also played support slots for Lamb Of God in their home country and in the Czech Republic. The guys went on to record the material for this, their debut album, which was mixed and mastered by renowned producer Tue Madsen at his Antfarm Studio, and subsequently released in the latter part of 2010. During 2011, the band was offered the opportunity to support internationally successful bands such as Mnemic, Raunchy, and Pro-Pain, furthering their profile on the corporate ladder in the music industry...which réally started to notice the band when they became the first ever Slovakian band to play at 2012's Wacken Open Air festival (as a reward for having won the 2012 Wacken Metal Battle). Along the way, the band had already played at several local festivals (including one which found 'em sharing stages with Soilwork) and released music clips for 6 songs off the album, and now added a live video recorded at Wacken to that collection. Finally, in 2013, the band got contacted by the relatively new label Metalbox Recordings, with the aim of re-releasing the band's debut album on an international level...which, inevitably, brought it onto my to-do desk!
So, there it is, apparently with a bonus track...which I take to be the last one on the list of the download promo we got, namely “Rieka”...a song which, like original album closer “Kral' Skazy”, was done with Slovakian lyrics. Now, you can call me a weirdo, but to me it's those two songs I like best on this album, as they give the band a musical signature all its own! You're confused? Well, just listen to any of the other songs with their English lyrics (check the media section at (www.) rust2dust.sk to find 5 of those), and you'll agree that, in comparison, the band becomes just one drop in the lake of bands of the same type!? Don't take me wrong though, the guys certainly play a very nice type of Metal with the appropriate breaks and pace changes to make things a bit interesting for the more seasoned listener...but it's just that these days, a band like that doés need “something special” in order to lift it from that “lake”, see what I mean?...and those couple of songs done in their own language are just what might do the trick, you know! So, my advice to the band, which I allow them to take which ever way they feel like it (it's only meant as a positive pointer, and not as a criticism, you know), is that they kéép putting in an occasional song with their native language...as that is what sets 'em apart as a Slovakian band to start with! In other words: don't be afraid to mix in some of your own nationality's elements boys...it's what makes you lot interesting!