Despite the seemingly absent bass in some parts the band delivers some well-rounded performances on Leitmotif and there are even some Tool influences to top it all off. The only disappointing part about the band as a whole on this record is that the bass isn’t always heard in the mix of the album and this is something the band surely changes in their later works. Dino’s signature snare drum sound is also very evident and he really gets a chance to show what he’s made of throughout Leitmotif. The album starts off with “Symbol Song” and Gavin’s powerful performance along with some fantastic guitar riffs are sure to impress. Though Gavin’s aggressive side is not entirely perfect he certainly gets the job done quite well with some powerful performances and even some great screams thrown into the mix. Plus the listener will surely experience a different angsty side of Gavin Hayes that is never seen again.

Instead of possessing an extremely polished sound, Leitmotif introduces an aggressively raw progressive rock sound that is uncharacteristic of Dredg. They certainly perfect their sound with El Cielo, but make no mistake that Leitmotif had a unique sound of its own. However, the band’s debut LP was extremely different compared to their later works and the listener gets to experience a different side of them. Unfortunately the eventual demise of Dredg came with their latest album, but they still managed to release some impressive work in between Catch Without Arms and Pariah. El Cielo was an undeniable masterpiece because its flawless flow, atmospheric sound and beautiful lyrics were all staggeringly mature for a sophomore LP. Their signature sound, musicianship and fantastic use of experimental concepts cements them as a powerhouse band of the genre. In the vast world of alternative progressive music Dredg proves to be one of the bands that really stand out.

Dredg leitmotif digital download