Dual Coma - Reprogrammed H.A.T.E.

April 18, 2009

Reviewer: Jesse

Reinventing yourself as a band can be a risky task, especially when your new approach is clearly aimed at becoming more accessible.  You start throwing out descriptive phrases about your style trying to mask either what it really is or to confuse the listener.  Post-metalcore, modern melodic thrash… either can be used to describe Dual Coma’s newest release, Reprogrammed H.A.T.E. and neither would be completely off base.  The good thing about this new approach to their music is that they did it before most anyone knew, or knows, who they are which is the best way to go about it if you ask me.  Figure out who you are and what you want to sound like before releasing too much material and for that, I can respect them a whole lot more.

But before you take any of that the wrong way (as in this is radio-friendly quasi-metal) I have to say that I’d more than likely enjoy the “new” Dual Coma regardless.  However, this release is sort of unbalanced as it includes their newest EP as well as an older demo.  The intent of course is to showcase the EP along with allowing people to hear older material on the same disc.  Naturally, the EP is a little different and is ultimately what I’m going to base my opinion on seeing as that is more than likely what they’re going to sound like in the future.

The focus, as mentioned above, is on the new songs and highlighting them is the opener (and single) “Bulletproof Heart” which I feel is a very strong effort and quite good.  Basically a melodic post-thrash song (see there I did it too) with clean and growling vocals, catchy choruses and aggressive drumming.  And when I say catchy, I mean “stays-in-your-head-forever” catchy.  The clean vocals are just superb and aren’t cheesy in the slightest.  Both the guitarist and bassist switch off and both have very good voices.  I was very impressed in their singing ability and it shows that they took this aspect seriously.  The production is crystal clear and of very high caliber.  This is the kind of song that will surely push them into the direction that they’re looking to go down and get them noticed.  I think it’s great and no one would ever confuse me as much of a fan of this style.

The next track from the EP, “Divided Mind” is in the same boat with great clean vocals and catchy as hell.  Not quite as good as “Bulletproof Heart,” but still quality and does a good job in showing the listener that this style is going to fit nicely with them.

The rest of the tracks from the previous demo are still decent, but they stagnate quickly in a sort of half melodic death, half modern thrash spin-cycle.  It’s just nothing that I haven’t heard a thousand times and none of the songs really leave much of a lasting impression.  I think Dual Coma recognized this and is why they made the decision to change things up.  Don’t get me wrong, the talent is clearly audible in the older songs.  The drummer is exceptional and fits right in with this approach and the guitarists are more than capable of thrashing away with wild solos.

Overall, I’m impressed with what little I’ve heard and will wait with reserved optimism to see what the future holds for Dual Coma.  They seem to have everything in place at the moment and time will tell what they decide to do from here.  Keep it up.

Release Date: January 14th, 2009
Label: Let Them Come Records

TRACK LISTING

1. Bulletproof Heart
2. Divided Mind
3. Blood Drunk
4. Nuclear Lost
5. Constellation
6. Chain Reaction
7. Parabellum
8. Stand By
9. Program H.A.T.E.
10. Zero

Total playing time: 47:18

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