### Crackdust: Dented reality

#### 26/03/12 || BamaHammer

I like to consider myself a bit of a renaissance man when it comes to unusual, awkward places on this lousy planet to find metal bands. Lately though, I’ve found myself digging even deeper into the pit of international obscurities to dust off some real gems from places that I never even thought would have metal scenes at all, much less scenes with a little quality. Case in point: Botswana.

Now I understand Crackdust sounds like something that would get Scarface beyond high, but They’re actually a fairly impressive three-piece death metal outfit from Gabarone with this, “Dented reality,” a lone full-length to their name. It’s sixteen songs that run for roughly 42 minutes, and there’s no real hope of finding this album anywhere but online for a downloadable purchase. However, if you do have some extra coin to blow, blow it on Crackdust, not crack like usual (har har).

Crackdust plays a raw, primitive style of death metal that’s almost laughably simplistic yet surprisingly and infectiously groovy. With the combination of the plodding pace and deep, distorted guitar tone, it’s also incredibly heavy. There’s never a single riff or drum beat that you feel like a semi-talented musician couldn’t pull of in a heartbeat, but the way everything is performed with such passion is Crackdust’s real strength. It’s obvious that this is a band that has a massive amount of love and respect for their craft, and it really comes through in the music.

They sound influenced by old-school mid-paced Swedish death metal bands like Grave, and they always sound like they’re playing in their comfort zone in terms of speed and technicality. There’s even an instrumental song called “Subliminal sorrow” which sounds like “And justice for all” era Metallica worship complete with melancholic clean guitar accompaniment and a guitar solo. Granted the solo is borderline awful, but they’re at least trying.

As far as the production, I would probably describe it as slightly sloppy but still competent enough, considering the level of advancement of the scene in Botswana. the drums sound very electronic and triggered, and the guitars sound like they’re being pushed through a solid-state combo in a small room somewhere, which is probably correct. Either way, the whole package works.

I probably shouldn’t even rate this album so highly, but I really just can’t stop listening to this thing. I just play it over and over again, and I enjoy it every time. I think it just reminds me of when I was a young kid trying to create music of my own as an emerging musician. And I guess it should because this is the sound of an emerging metal scene, and that really and truly gives it some authentic old-school charm. If you’re looking for a pretty interesting band from an obscure place, give Crackdust a try.

- Information
- Released: 2007
- Label: Brutal Bands Records
- Website: www.crackdust.com
- Band
- Roth: vocals, guitars
- S’bond: guitars, bass
- Dlax: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Ruptured
- 02. Birth of Hatred
- 03. Dececrate
- 04. Breeding the Undead
- 05. Grind the Flesh
- 06. Consumed
- 07. Mass for the Dead
- 08. Born of the Sorcerer
- 09. Price of Truth
- 10. Subliminal Sorrow
- 11. Deranged Psychopath
- 12. Fate
- 13. Mortal Decay
- 14. Tainted Saints
- 15. Son of Rosobola
- 16. Retribution