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Album Details

• Artist: Dreamfast!
• Album: In Armor
• Label: Indie
• Year of Release: 2005
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: hstisgod on 2005-02-22

More than just a name, Dreamfast! invokes a blending of progressive and punk-rock sounds. This Arkansas-bred threesome, though generic, shows plenty of raw potential on their independently produced album In Armor.

The introduction track "Let There Be Light," is a walking pattern of guitars stepping awkwardly into pace allowing the drums to squeeze their way in. Quickly, things pick up and off we go as the introduction strokes and the boosters come in. The entirety of the first minute and 48 seconds sets the tone. Inward, the progressive guitars lead the way, then watch as the pace drips further down leading the vocals of track two, "Ashley Please." Surprisingly it's a woman, and it's her voice (Amyh Hart) that sings a complimenting sound while forming a bond with the guitars. The chorus comes quickly as Hart screams the countdown, "One, two, three, four, five..."

Further defining is their attachment to their local region. Two or possibly three song titles, and their pertaining lyrical content, are in straight reference to their Little Rock surroundings. Track four "No Coast Love Song," begins with an echoing guitar string parade. Starting to take focus is the possible influence of L7, in addition to the obvious and undeniable Blink 182 sound. Not as suspect to thrash the grunge punk rock sound, these guys fit more of the contemporary emo punk rock sound.

Dreamfast! is nothing short of a contemporary punk rock band with progressive tones with all the toppings. Marching band-like drum patrols are what keep this entire project together as cymbal tapping paves the way for guitar explosions. Track five, "Matt vs. the View," is easily the best track here. Immediately the song starts off in warp speed and never comes down low enough even for a short breather. The entire 1:45 is a blistering post punk ballad. "All I wanna do is be in love with you...."

"Miscounted Sheep," the eighth track, is more like a scratchy Bush (the band) beginning and nowhere near the first two minutes does the punk genre show its face. Acting more like progressive emo with a love ballad lemon twist; the breaks are controlled by the drummer's splashes like the starting gunfire at a track-and-field race.

Though things do get predictable, the entire album begins taking shape as Hart's voice becomes the anchor. Whether many artists have recorded the same vocal tones before or not, it distracts the spotlight from the somewhat technically devoid guitar work. It's more like they're just banging things out again when the bridge slowly builds back up into their saving grace, the aggressive chorus finale. It's the closing track, "Psychological Flyer," that shows these three throwing down their 'almost' version of Nirvana's "Endless Nameless," with emotionally charged yet indirect vocals.

Opening for acts like Voodoo Glow Skulls, Sugarcult, Juliana Theory and Everclear, Dreamfast! is showing stability as they climb uphill with their start and stop punk format.

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