If you’ve been on the hunt for some chunky guitar-driven rock, your search would end happily with Halifax’s Dazor. Bringing together some of grunge’s best features like the plaintive vocal delivery with perfectly placed backing vocals. Couple that with crushing guitars and a powerful rhythm section, and you have what promises to be a really great release from Dazor.
“We drew inspiration from our usual suspects such as the Smashing Pumpkins and Foo Fighters and the melodic side of ’90s grunge/alt,” says Dazor’s Ian Panter.
“This song is our first release since we’ve added the very musically inclined Brad Long on guitar and backing vocals. Adding Brad to the group has positively refined our sound,” adds Panter.
And he speaks the truth. Dazor eschews the guitar solo on this track, rather they are kneeling at the altar of REM where the band bridges and rocks out in the B-section as a unit, a move I vastly prefer as it keeps the focus on the song rather than a band member.
On the topic of those guitars, the single was recorded at The Sonic Temple in Halifax, with producer Darren Van Niekerk (Iron Tulip Audio/Sonic Temple), and the guitar on this track are especially huge. They occupy loads of timbral space as well as being very wide in the stereo field.
“Lyrically, the song is about moving on from loss and chugging through low times in life, but more from the ‘watch and learn’ perspective,” explains Panter. “Progressing and learning from past mistakes, whether it be anything from leaving toxic relationships to struggling with addiction, the song speaks more to the ‘outside looking in’ on these situations.
“Overall, it aims to deliver a more positive outlook and uplifting message while being open to interpretation and relatable.”
That’s a message we can get behind; learning and progressing is a laudable goal. Any band that encourages that, with a single that can you thrash around like a wild man, can win you over every time. There is no sense of preaching here, this is simply four guys who have made a positive move forward. This is a well-crafted, huge song with a good sense of fun, right down to the ’80s fade out.