Dusted Angel’s Earth Sick Mind Now Available

Posted in Whathaveyou on November 10th, 2010 by JJ Koczan

Hear ye, hear ye. The PR speaketh of things Dusted and Angelic. Astute and/or long-time attendees might recall the review of Dusted Angel‘s Earth Sick Mind from last month — or perhaps even the interview with frontman Clifford Dinsmore (ex-Bl’ast) on the occasion of the release of their first 7″ last year. Yeah, probably not.

In any case, Earth Sick Mind is out now, or so says the blue press release below with news of that and other Dusted Angel goings-on. Dig:

Dusted Angel‘s long-anticipated full-length Earth Sick Mind is out now via Mankind Records, bearing seven thunderous anthems for public consumption. The band’s blend of raging rock/hardcore crossover and cerebral doom elements has been slowly infecting full-on headbangers, stoner rock aficionados and all in between over the past two years, and it all comes together seamlessly on the 40-minute long debut album.

Merging Dusted Angel‘s longstanding ties to West Coast hardcore/rock as well as their infamous California surf and skate legacy — with several members hailing from notorious SST surf/skatecore legends Bl’ast — the band have teamed up with the almighty Thrasher magazine in celebration of the release of DA‘s album, with a full-page ad and promotion in the December issue of the mag (out 11/15) where readers can receive a free copy of Earth Sick Mind with a one-year subscription to the mag!

After recently storming San Francisco opening for D.C. hardcore legends Scream last month, Dusted Angel are busy racking up more live dates. Within the coming weeks we’ll be announcing the band’s upcoming participation in one badass West Coast tour early in 2011; more details will follow very shortly. For now catch them live at the Art ‘n’ Soul presents Modern Living event at San Jose‘s Voodoo Lounge next week; an event chock full of partying, art, music, and a full-on skate ramp setup, for a day of total debauchery.

Dusted Angel live:
11/17 Voodoo Lounge San Jose, CA w/ Hightower

Tags: , , ,

Dusted Angel are Either Sick of This World, or Very Much Not Sick of This World, and Either Way, it’s Pretty Sick

Posted in Reviews on October 13th, 2010 by JJ Koczan

Listening to the first full-length by Santa Cruz doom rockers Dusted Angel, I can’t help but wonder exactly what they meant by the title Earth-Sick Mind. It’s hard to tell whether the band, fronted by ex-Bl’ast/Spaceboy/Gargantula vocalist Clifford Dinsmore, were thinking of “earth-sick” like the idea of being homesick, missing planet Earth after leaving for whatever reason, or “earth-sick” as in, “God damn, I’m really sick of this fucking planet.” The cover art to Earth-Sick Mind (released on Mankind Records) isn’t much help either, as the loincloth and gasmask-clad figure featured on an apocalyptic red background standing on top of a pile of skulls could just as easily be on Earth as not. Hard to say. That pipe he’s holding looks like Earth plumbing, if that makes any difference.

The title is probably the most challenging aspect of the album though, as Dusted Angel’s straightforward doom approach is bound to be familiar and welcome amidst the seasoned heads who hear it. A double-guitar five-piece with riffs and solos from Eric Fieber and Scott Stevens, Elliot Young on bass and Dinsmore’s Bl’ast bandmate Bill Torgeson drumming, Dusted Angel don’t ask much from the listener in terms of indulgence. Rather, although tracks like “Tards on Shards” and “Scottstober” (inside jokes abound, one imagines) reach over seven minutes, there’s nothing overly complex about their structures. This can make Earth-Sick Mind feel redundant at points, but each individual track has something to grab even the most fickle of attentions, be it the plus-sized chugging of later cut “Pulverizer” or the sub-stoner drive of “Seeking the Dawn” which is kind of what Fu Manchu would be if Fu Manchu only wrote songs in the dark.

Read more »

Tags: , , ,

Dusted Angel Schedule Record Release Shows

Posted in Whathaveyou on October 8th, 2010 by JJ Koczan

It’s a great time for it too, because their album’s about to be released. Amazing when these things come together like that. You’d almost think someone planned it that way.

The PR wire’s got the goods, and by “goods” I mean “information.”

Earth Sick Mind, the thunderous debut full-length from Santa Cruz doom rockers Dusted Angel, is finally upon us and set for release on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010. The crushing seven-track attack of Earth Sick Mind was captured in San Francisco by sludgemonger Billy Anderson (High on Fire, Neurosis, Sleep) in April, and will be released next week by Mankind Records, a division of Revelation Records. A solid year and a half of touring and west coast gigs have the members of Dusted Angel conditioned to jam tighter than ever, building upon the rocking hardcore-meets-stoner/doom dynamics fans of the band already love, and taking these songs to massive new levels of crushing groove.

In celebration, Dusted Angel will perform at a pair of Bay Area record release shows this month. The first show takes place in San Francisco on Oct. 15, just days after the album’s release, where Dusted Angel will be playing alongside Dischord Records hardcore legends Scream! The following week the band hit their hometown Santa Cruz legions hard, playing alongside Christian Mistress and Thrones who are currently touring the US together.

Dusted Angel record release shows:
10/15 Thee ParksideSan Francisco, CA w/ Scream, Dead Meat
10/27 Blue LagoonSanta Cruz, CA w/ Christian Mistress, Thrones

Tags: , , ,

Dusted Angel in the Pool

Posted in Bootleg Theater, Whathaveyou on October 8th, 2009 by JJ Koczan

I’m not much for revering obscure Santa Cruz skateboarding venues, so I’ll let the PR wire explain this one. Suffice it so say that Dusted Angel kicks ass playing in the video and doom and pro skating is a marriage long in the making. Dig it:

He's yelling at me for not revering obscure Santa Cruz skating venues.Santa Cruz doomsters Dusted Angel were invited to play at a historic skateboarding landmark last weekend as the Buena Vista skate pool was unearthed for a day of hardcore skating. The pool is part of Dusted Angel ‘s heritage; a famous landmark dating back nearly 40 years, where early pro skateboarders helped bring the concept of pool skating to the public’s attention. Frontman Clifford Dinsmore stated, “When Dave Freil from NHS/Santa Cruz, barged our practice the night before the contest, and asked us to play, it was an honor that no Santa Cruzian could possibly refuse!”

After being physically buried under gravel and dirt for years (the last time it was uncovered was 2001), the pool was unearthed for one special day of hardcore skating, boozing, good times and of course, Dusted Angel jamming out in the midst of it all. “The mayhem that ensued was light-years beyond classic” Dinsmore continues. “We became the soundtrack for an irreplaceable day in time. No fights, no bullshit, and some of the most aggro skating ever witnessed at one of the most hairball pools in the history of this fucked up earth.” The pool is to be re-buried again this week, making this one day a true landmark in skateboarding history.

Tags: , ,

RECOVERED: Dusted Angel Interview: Into the Fire

Posted in Features on August 20th, 2009 by JJ Koczan

Doom claws for everyone!When I called Dusted Angel frontman, Clifford Dinsmore, for the following interview, the Santa Cruz singer was out riding his bike. As he’d shortly inform me, he was about a block away from raging wildfires that were, as he put it, “Like riding your bike in the middle of a camp fire.” I was largely unable to imagine the heat, discomfort and threatened feelings such a situation might produce.

Nonetheless, the former BL’AST and Gargantula frontman was willing to give up some of his time to discuss his latest project, Dusted Angel, who recently issued their self-titled debut 7″ (review here) through Corruption Recordings. Rooted in doomed-out, old school simplicity and foreboding riff-led atmospheres, the five-piece has already amassed a considerable following taking into account their still-nascent status.

After the jump, the veteran vocalist discusses the formation of Dusted Angel, their recording process with the much-revered Billy Anderson, and what they have planned for the future. Followers of a traditional doom aesthetic and a new school sensibility will want to take note. Enjoy.

Read more »

Tags: , , ,